Thought Induced Gene

Expression

Brishav Rajbahak
Abhishesh Bajracharya

Contents
Introduction
Process
Scope
Results
References

Introduction
Gene

regulation method that enables

thought-specific brainwaves to
control the conversion of genes into
proteins
Tap into human brainwaves, transfer
them wirelessly to a gene network and
regulate the expression
of a gene
depending
on the type of
thought

Human

thoughts can be used to turn on

genes in mice via genetically modified
cells (implants)
A tiny, light-based machine uses people's
brain waves to generate a flicker of light,
which then turns on genes in the brains of
mice
Martin Fussenegger, a professor of
biotechnology and bioengineering, and his
team at the Department of Biosystems
(B-BSSE), ETH Zurich in Switzerland
developed this gene regulation technique

LED light, to be implanted in mice. Expresses gene in

modified cells when switched on.

Process
In

their study, Fussenegger and his

colleagues asked several volunteers to
meditate or concentrate (by playing a
game of "Minecraft) or control their brain
activity with biofeedback, (a technique
where people sync their brain waves using
a guided display)
The brainwaves thus produced were
recorded and analyzed by an EEG headset
and fed wirelessly via bluetooth to a
controller that manages a field generator

This

field generator created an

electromagnetic field which gave the
implant an induction current
The induction current turns on an LED
lamp in the implant which emits nearinfrared light
A light-sensitive module reacts to nearinfrared light which shines on a modified
light-sensitive bacterial protein
within the implants
This turns on a tailor-made gene
snippet that encodes a specific human
protein: SEAP (Secreted Alkaline

Results
Test

subjects who played Minecraft on the

computer, i.e. who were concentrating,
induced average SEAP values in the
bloodstream of the mice
Subjects who were completely relaxed
(meditation) recorded very high SEAP
values in the bloodstream of mice
For bio-feedback, the test subjects were
able to consciously switch the LED light on
or off via the visual feedback. This in turn
was reflected by the varying amounts of
SEAP in the bloodstream of the mice.

The optogenetic implant, seen through the skin of mice.

Scopes
Could

be used by people who suffer

from chronic headaches or epilepsy
to instantly deliver drugs from a brain
implant when they experience
characteristic brain waves at the onset
of pain or a seizure.
Could eventually be used in the human
brain to deliver precise quantities
of drugs as needed. Eg. Pain
management release of endorphins

Drawbacks
finding

reliable signals of illness

in a fuzzy mass of brainwaves
implants get covered with fibrotic
scar tissue hampering the release
of any proteins from the implant

Reference
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20

14/11/141111111317.htm
http://www.livescience.com/48712human-thoughts-control-mousegenes.html
http://earthsky.org/humanworld/controlling-genes-with-thoughts
https://www.ethz.ch/en/news-andevents/ethnews/news/2014/11/controlling-geneswith-thoughts.html

Thank You