Electrogenesis

Electrogenesis is the production of electric potentials or currents. In a biological context, the term refers to the ability of certain organisms to generate electricity, either for navigation and communication or for predation and defense. The best-known electrogenic animals are electric fishes, notably the gymnotiform knifefishes and mormyrids, as well as torpediniform electric rays. These animals possess electric organs—arrays of electrocytes derived from muscle or nerve tissue—organized to produce large membrane potentials.

Electrocytes maintain ion gradients across their membranes with pumps and channels. When triggered by the nervous system, they discharge in a concerted fashion, generating an electric organ discharge (EOD). Low-voltage EODs (used for electrolocation and communication) differ in pattern from high-voltage discharges (used to stun prey or deter threats). In electric eels, voltages historically reported up to several hundred volts have been documented.

Electrogenesis has evolved multiple times in fishes, with different anatomical origins and discharge properties. It illustrates convergent evolution toward exploiting bioelectricity for ecological advantages, including prey capture, navigation, and social signaling.

Outside biology, the term electrogenesis is rarely used; common discussions of electricity generation in technology describe energy conversion processes (chemical, mechanical) rather than biological electrogenesis. Related topics include bioelectricity, electric organ, and electrocommunication.