A team of South Korean researchers published a study claiming to have activated specific genes using only electromagnetic signals. The finding, which avoids traditional chemical or physical methods, has been met with skepticism by the international scientific community, which calls for replicating the results before accepting the breakthrough as real.
How a magnetic field can flip genetic switches 🧲
The method is based on magnetic nanoparticles that, when exposed to an external field, generate localized heat. That heat activates a thermosensitive gene promoter designed to respond to specific temperatures. The scientists managed to control the expression of reporter genes in cultured cells, but critics point out problems with thermal control and possible unmeasured side effects in the original study.
The fridge magnet won't be enough to reprogram your DNA 🧬
Before you stick magnets all over your body hoping to become smarter or stronger, it's worth clarifying that the experiment requires nanoparticles and very precise fields. So, for now, your old fridge magnet will only keep holding the shopping list, not your genes. Science advances, but skepticism also has its pull.