Scrutinizing Effects of 75 GHz MMW Irradiation on Biological Functions of Yeast

In recent days, millimeter waves are widely used for biomedical applications. The mechanisms of biological effects triggered by millimeter-wave exposure are not fully understood and have been the subject of debate. This article presents preliminary studies on a 75 GHz millimeter wave irradiation effect on Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells. In the first step, the exposure setup is designed, and radiated power from the horn antenna is optimized. The yeast cells were grown in a standard synthetic complete liquid medium and dappled onto the agar plates for irradiation. After that, grown cells were irradiated with a frequency of 75 GHz for 6 hours. The growth/division rate of irradiated and control cells was determined using the standard method. A comparative analysis of changes in the growth rate and cell viability of the control versus irradiated yeast cells was performed. Preliminary studies showed that the low power millimeter wave irradiation does not affect the growth rate and cell viability of yeast cells. These results do not rule out the possibilities of local subcellular effects on prolonged exposure.