CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

In this paper we pose the idea of modelling a living cell as a continuum medium, instead of as acomplex assembly of units (e.g. atomic ions, molecules, ionic channels, organelles, etc.). We base this conception in the fact that the electromagnetic nature of matter implies there must be an electric and a magnetic field at each point of the living cell. These vector quantities are permanently changing in direction and amplitude with time. Thus, the living cell is mathematically conceivable as a (remarkably complex) time-dependent vector field: the cell results to be a region of space in which each of its points holds an electromagnetic signal (i.e., coupled timevaryingelectric and magnetic fields). We assume that the cell is a) continuous and b) bounded, both in space and time. These assumptions allow a Fourier analysis, which in term renders the cell as a field of spectra: at each point of the cell there is the spectrum of the signal corresponding to that point. Therefore, as with signals only function of time, the cell may be seen from two (so called) domains: time and frequency, which are, in addition, both also function of space. Upon these grounds, we show how general considerations regarding different space distributions of frequency band-widths permit re-constructing the standard image of the cell (i.e., consisting of separable constituents), making the present model rather comprehensive. Furthermore, a distinction of the concepts of structure and process is made in terms of spatial spectral contents. Besides, we pose the phenomenon of interference as essential to explain the interaction of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields with living cells. Arguments supporting the adequacy of such an approach are presented and discussed. Finally, both theoretical and experimental possible future developments of the ideas discussed in this work are briefly commented.