Health & Medicine
Controlling Genes with Your Thoughts: New System Regulates Gene Expression
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Nov 12, 2014 09:11 AM EST
Controlling something using your thoughts is hard to imagine in and of itself. But imagine if you could control genes with just your mind. Scientists have developed a novel gene regulation method that enables thought-specific brainwaves to control the conversion of genes into proteins, also known as gene expression.
"For the first time, we have been able to tap into human brainwaves, transfer them wireless to a gene network and regulate the expression of a gene depending on the type of thought," said Martin Fussenegger, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Being able to control gene expression via the power of thought is a dream that we've been chasing for over a decade."
The new system uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset. This is a special headset with a sensor on the forehead that can record brainwaves. These recorded brainwaves are then analyzed and transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth to a controller, which in turn controls a field generator that generates an electromagnetic field; this then supplies an implant with an induction current.
Then, a light literally goes into the implant; an integrated LED lamp that emits light in the near-infrared range turns on and illuminates a culture chamber containing genetically modified cells. When the near-infrared light illuminates the cells, they start to produce the desired protein.
"Controlling genes in this way is completely new and is unique in its simplicity," said Fussenegger. "The light-sensitive optogenetic module that reacts to near-infrared light is a particular advancement. The light shines on a modified light-sensitive protein within the gene-modified cells and triggers an artificial signal cascade, resulting in the production of SEAP. Near-infrared light was used because it is generally not harmful to human cells, can penetrate deep into the tissue and enables the function of the implant to be visually tracked."
The system actually functions efficiently and effectively in a human-cell culture and a human-mouse system. In theory, it could one day be used as a thought-controlled implant to combat neurological diseases such as chronic headaches, back pain and epilepsy.
The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
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First Posted: Nov 12, 2014 09:11 AM EST
Controlling something using your thoughts is hard to imagine in and of itself. But imagine if you could control genes with just your mind. Scientists have developed a novel gene regulation method that enables thought-specific brainwaves to control the conversion of genes into proteins, also known as gene expression.
"For the first time, we have been able to tap into human brainwaves, transfer them wireless to a gene network and regulate the expression of a gene depending on the type of thought," said Martin Fussenegger, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Being able to control gene expression via the power of thought is a dream that we've been chasing for over a decade."
The new system uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset. This is a special headset with a sensor on the forehead that can record brainwaves. These recorded brainwaves are then analyzed and transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth to a controller, which in turn controls a field generator that generates an electromagnetic field; this then supplies an implant with an induction current.
Then, a light literally goes into the implant; an integrated LED lamp that emits light in the near-infrared range turns on and illuminates a culture chamber containing genetically modified cells. When the near-infrared light illuminates the cells, they start to produce the desired protein.
"Controlling genes in this way is completely new and is unique in its simplicity," said Fussenegger. "The light-sensitive optogenetic module that reacts to near-infrared light is a particular advancement. The light shines on a modified light-sensitive protein within the gene-modified cells and triggers an artificial signal cascade, resulting in the production of SEAP. Near-infrared light was used because it is generally not harmful to human cells, can penetrate deep into the tissue and enables the function of the implant to be visually tracked."
The system actually functions efficiently and effectively in a human-cell culture and a human-mouse system. In theory, it could one day be used as a thought-controlled implant to combat neurological diseases such as chronic headaches, back pain and epilepsy.
The findings are published in the journal Nature Communications.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone