Researchers from Switzerland have developed an “electrogenetic” interface that can control human genes with small pulses of electricity.
Using specially designed human pancreatic tissues in test mice, they successfully triggered insulin production, offering potential benefits for diabetes management. The technology, known as DC-actuated regulation technology (DART), brings together digital tech from wearable gadgets and analog tech from biological bodies.
By manipulating epigenetic molecules that regulate DNA, DART shows promise in addressing various genetic-related conditions. Although still in its early stages, this exciting proof of concept opens up possibilities for future wearable devices that could directly program gene-based therapies for personalized medical interventions.
As this technology progresses, it could revolutionize health wearables, allowing them to intervene directly in metabolic processes and potentially address various genetic-related health conditions beyond diabetes.