Researchers at Dongguk University in Seoul have developed a magnetically controlled switch for turning on genes inside cells, as detailed in a recent Cell paper. The technique uses a specific electromagnetic signal to activate genes in mice and human cells. Critics, however, question the plausibility of the results and point to potential flaws in the study.
Jongpil Kim and his team at Dongguk University report creating a switch that activates the promoter sequence for the LGR4 gene using a 4-kilohertz electromagnetic square wave at 2 millitesla strength, modulated at 60 hertz. This induces calcium ion oscillations in cells engineered with cytochrome b5 protein, triggering gene expression. The method worked in various human cells and mice, with no detectable effects on unmodified animals, according to the paper published in Cell (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.03.029). Kim states the precise biophysical mechanism remains under investigation but emphasizes the signal's safety for potential medical use, such as controlling therapeutic protein production deep in the body. His team is collaborating with biotech companies and institutions, with plans to disclose datasets in future publications. The approach addresses optogenetics' limitations, where light cannot penetrate far into tissues, potentially enabling non-invasive control of biological processes for treatments and research. Physicist Andrew York calls the claim 'wild' and 'game-changing,' urging replication before publication, noting the paper's three-year review allowed time for independent verification. He deems the near-minute oscillation from a 60-Hz signal implausible and the calcium response's magnitude suspiciously selective, affecting only one gene without broader impacts. Kim counters that internal cell processes govern the oscillation period, not the signal frequency, and the response stays within physiological norms. Additional concerns include a luminescence figure showing activity before activation—dismissed by Kim as a curve-smoothing artifact—and a duplicated, flipped image in figure S5P, attributed to a clerical error now under correction with Cell. The publisher has not yet responded to inquiries.
