Effects of WiFi Radiation Exposure on Gene Expression in Corn Seedlings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.3823Keywords:
Gene Expression, PAO, Polyamine oxidase enzyme, WiFi, WiFi Radiation, Corn, Plants, RT-qPCR, RF raysAbstract
The usage of WiFi has drastically increased over the past decades and has quickly become part of our daily lives. WiFi is part of the electromagnetic field, which has a spectrum of frequencies; WiFi specifically uses radio waves (RF rays). RF rays have weak and long wavelengths, making them non-ionizing. Previous research shows that WiFi may have an impact on plant growth, with different adverse effects observed in various plant species. Polyamine oxidase enzyme (PAO) is an enzyme expressed by plants when exposed to stress factors such as drought and physical damage. PAO has been observed in previous research to have higher expression in injured plants. Therefore, this study examined the gene expression of PAO in WiFi-exposed corn seedlings. Four pots of Zea mays were grown for two weeks, in two separate greenhouses; one greenhouse was placed over a WiFi router, and the other was placed 20 feet away from the router. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) was extracted from the corn and analyzed for concentration. Gene expression of PAO was then determined using RT-qPCR. WiFi radiation did not result in a difference in the gene expression of PAO in Zea mays plants. More research is needed in this field to fully understand the effect of WiFi radiation in plants.
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