Magnetotactic bacteria and biomagnetism: Criteria of sample selection for the national biobank–depository of living systems

Abstract

Magnetotactic bacteria that produce nanosized crystals of magnetite or greigite (or both minerals) inside cells in the processes of life play an important role in the biogeochemical processes, for example, in the iron and sulfur cycle, as well as in natural residual magnetization of sedimentary rocks. Despite decades of investigation, knowledge of their abundance and ecology is still limited. The principles of sample selection for the national biobank–depository of the living systems are described on the basis of petro- and paleomagnetic methods for the investigation of biomineralization.