Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on morphogenesis and gene expression during embryo development in an animal model
Projectomschrijving
In huis en op kantoor maken we dagelijks gebruik van apparaten die elektromagnetische velden (EMV) opwekken. Denk aan de mobiele telefoon, de draadloze telefoon (DECT) en draadloos internet (Wifi). De alledaagsheid van deze EMV-bronnen maakt het zeer relevant om te onderzoeken of ze invloed hebben op onze gezondheid. Wetenschappers van de Animal Sciences Group (ASG) van Wageningen Universiteit en Researchcentrum en wetenschappers van TNO Defensie en Veiligheid starten in 2008 een onderzoeksproject gehonoreerd door ZonMw. In dit project zullen zij mogelijke gezondheidseffecten van dagelijkse EMV-bronnen op de ontwikkeling van kippenembryo’s gaan onderzoeken.
Verslagen
Samenvatting van de aanvraag
This multidisciplinary project will be carried out by a consortium of Animal Sciences Group of Wageningen UR and TNO Defence, Security and Safety (TNO-FEL, Fysisch Electronisch Laboratorium), with the aim to contribute to Netherlands-based basic knowledge on the relation between electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health. This research project will be specifically targeted towards the highly relevant and very sensitive biological parameter embryo development. We will study effects of EMF (GSM, UMTS, DECT, WIFI) on the incidence of morphological malformations and on gene expression at different stages of embryo development, Using microarrays we can screen possible effects on over 100.000 genes during embryo development, making it very likely to pick up any possible effect. We will use the chicken embryo development as animal model, in order to be able to use experimental set-ups that are unfeasible with humans.
TNO has been the partner of the Ministry of Defence
ense for questions regarding EMF of military sources and health on topics such as dosimetry and measurement procedures. In addition numerous projects have been carried out for other ministries. A common factor in most of these projects is to establish the actual exposure of subjects and the dose-effect relationship.
Prof. P. Zwamborn and S Vossen are recognized body regarding EM fields and health
ASG offers expertise, technology, education and consultancy on animals, animal and human health, food safety and quality of the food production chain. They conduct contract research in close co-operation with clients and partners in the agro food complex, life sciences, veterinary and human pharma and within national and international governmental bodies.
H. Woelders and Prof. M. Smits are experts in the scientific fields of reproduction and genomics.