134 



its foundation a perturbed electromagnetic field, the perturbation 

 of which might be one of the most important parameters in 

 biology. 



This brings us to the intriguing interrelation of oxidation and 

 fermentation, usually summed up as the "Pasteur effect." By this 

 is meant a certain interdependence of the two processes, the classi- 

 cal example of which is found in yeast. Under anaerobic conditions 

 yeast lives on fermentation, but if oxygen is admitted it shunts 

 over to oxidation. The mechanism of this "shunting over" has 

 occupied biochemistry to a great extent and many theories have 

 been proposed for its explanation. Our considerations offer a new, 

 and maybe simpler one. If O2, by its mere presence alters the re- 

 activity of central catalysts, as that of riboflavine, and makes new 

 electronic transitions possible, then it might seem natural that 

 in its presence chemical events should take a new course, the primm- 

 ing action being done by the magnetic disturbance caused by the 

 paramagnetic O2 molecule. No substance other than riboflavine 

 has shown a similar behavior towards oxygen. This behavior is 

 thus specific and it is reasonable to think that it has its biological 

 meaning and is not accidental. 



Another intriguing interrelation is that of pathological growth 

 with fermentation and oxidation. As is known from the classical 

 studies of O. Warburg, cancer cells live to a greater extent on 

 fermentation than do normal cells, and Warburg ascribes a pri- 

 mary role to this change in the genesis of cancer. If oxidation and 

 fermentation represent merely two alternate pathways of energy 

 production then it is difficult to see why a shift in the balance of 

 the two processes in favor of fermentation should lead to path- 

 ological groui:h. 



The considerations presented in this book offer an explanation. 

 If excitation energies play a major role in biological energy trans- 

 missions and the various biological processes are actually driven 

 by the energies of triplet excitations then events will greatly de- 

 pend on the perturbation of the electromagnetic field; this pertur- 



