Researchers develop first brainwave operated gene network

Researchers at ETH Zurich university in Switzerland, led by professor Martin Fussenegger have developed the first gene network that operates via brainwaves.

Depending on the user's thoughts, it can produce various amounts of a desired molecule. The project was inspired by a game that picked up brainwaves to guide a ball through an obstacle course.

It sounded like something from the scene in Star Wars where Master Yoda instructed the young Luke Skywalker to use the force to release his stricken X-Wing from the swamp.

A novel gene regulation method developed by Marc Folcher and other researchers from the group led by Martin Fussenegger, professor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the Department of Biosystems (D-BSSE) in Basel allows thought-specific brainwaves to control the conversion of genes into proteins– called gene expression in technical terms.

According to Fussenegger, for the first time researchers had been able to tap into human brainwaves, transfer them wirelessly to a gene network and regulate the expression of a gene depending on the type of thought. He added, being able to control gene expression via the power of thought was a dream that researches had been chasing for over a decade.

Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that the approach fused the latest advances in cybernetics with those in synthetic biology by connecting a wireless headset that monitored brainwaves to an implant in the mouse that could change the rodent's genes.

The device could be worn by a person to alter the amount of protein made from a gene in the mouse by changing his or her state of mind from concentrating to relaxed or vice-versa.

Volunteers found that they could turn the gene on or off in the mouse as they liked and thereby increase or lower the levels of protein circulating in the blood system of the animal.

According to scientists the experiment could lead to the development of a radical new approach to the treatment of diseases. They believe it could be a first step towards the development of a system capable of monitoring brainwaves for signs of illnesses and automatically release medicines into the body for their treatment.

However, there were some major hurdles to overcome, before the system could be implanted into humans, however, Fussenegger said he hoped to see clinical trials in people with chronic pain or epilepsy in the next five years.