What Was Observed? (Introduction)
- Bioelectricity is becoming more prominent in various aspects of life, from energy sustainability to immunology and even machine learning applications.
- Recent studies have highlighted bioelectricity’s role in cellular properties, morphogenesis (how tissues and organs form), and inter-animal behavior.
- In one study, a molecule called Anoctamin helps coordinate the development of an organ in a marine animal called Ciona intestinalis, which serves as a model for understanding human development.
- Other studies focused on biodielectrics, which are materials that generate electricity in response to mechanical or thermal stimuli (e.g., piezoelectricity, ferroelectricity). These materials are found in both biological and bio-inspired systems.
- One study explored how electrically-stimulated gels can improve the viability and attachment of human stem cells, which could have important applications in medicine.
- Another fascinating discovery showed that African electric fish use each other’s electric field to extend their ability to sense objects, like “seeing” through electric signals rather than vision.
- Michael Levin, one of the researchers, suggested that bioelectricity serves as a “cognitive glue” that connects individual cells and components into large, functioning systems within an organism, and even allows communication between embryos.
What is Bioelectricity?
- Bioelectricity refers to the electrical signals and charges that occur in living organisms.
- It is essential for many biological processes, such as heartbeats, brain activity, and muscle contractions.
- It’s like the wiring that controls how cells and organs communicate with each other and work together as a coordinated system.
What is Anoctamin?
- A protein that plays a role in coordinating the development of organs in animals.
- It helps establish calcium (Ca2+) signaling within cells, which is crucial for the proper development of tissues.
- Think of Anoctamin like a manager who ensures all workers (in this case, cells) are performing their tasks at the right time for things to run smoothly in organ development.
What are Biodielectrics?
- Biodielectrics refer to materials that can generate electricity in response to mechanical pressure, heat, or other external stimuli.
- These materials are found both in biological systems and in bio-inspired technologies.
- For example, piezoelectric materials generate electricity when they are compressed, and this can be used in sensors or energy harvesting devices.
- In biology, biodielectrics help organisms sense and respond to changes in their environment, much like a skin that senses touch or pressure.
How Do Electrically-Stimulated Gels Work with Stem Cells?
- Research shows that electrically-stimulated gels can improve the survival and attachment of human stem cells.
- Stem cells are special cells that can become different types of cells, like muscle cells, nerve cells, or skin cells.
- These gels provide a controlled environment that encourages stem cells to grow and develop properly, similar to how a gardener might use specific soil and conditions to help plants grow.
What is Collective Sensing in Electric Fish?
- A study showed that electric fish, like Gnathonemus petersii, use their electric fields to “see” objects around them, even by using each other’s electric fields.
- In other words, these fish can extend their ability to sense things by “borrowing” the electric sensory information from other fish in their group.
- It’s like if humans could see through each other’s eyes—except instead of vision, the fish use electric signals to gather information about their surroundings.
Bioelectricity as Cognitive Glue
- Michael Levin proposed that bioelectricity serves as a “cognitive glue” that binds cells and tissues into coherent, functioning systems.
- This idea suggests that bioelectric signals help coordinate complex behaviors and functions, both at the level of individual organisms and even between embryos (developing organisms).
- It’s like how all the different parts of a car work together, guided by the signals from the engine to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Future of Bioelectricity: Upcoming Conference and Developments
- There will be a major bioelectricity meeting at Oxford University in April 2025, focusing on the future of the field.
- A Special Issue of *Bioelectricity* will be released in June 2025, which will feature the latest advancements and research on bioelectricity.
- The field of bioelectricity is growing, with new applications and discoveries on the horizon, promising even more exciting developments.
Key Conclusions (Discussion)
- Bioelectricity is essential in numerous biological processes and is increasingly recognized in many areas of research and technology.
- It serves as a key player in tissue development, cellular communication, and even in behavioral settings, helping organisms adapt to their environments.
- Bioelectricity is not just a localized phenomenon but has widespread implications across scales of organization, from individual cells to entire organisms and their interactions with one another.
Key References
- Liang Z, Dondorp DC, Chatzigeorgiou M. The ion channel Anoctamin 10/TMEM16K coordinates organ morphogenesis across scales in the urochordate notochord. PLoS Biol 2024; 22(8):e3002762.
- Barnana HD, Tofail SAM, Roy K, et al. Biodielectrics: Old wine in a new bottle? Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024;12:1458668.
- Song S, McConnell KW, Shan D, et al. Conductive gradient hydrogels allow spatial control of adult stem cell fate. J Mater Chem B 2024;12(7):1854–1863.
- Pedraja F, Sawtell NB. Collective sensing in electric fish. Nature 2024;628(8006):139–144.
- Levin M. Bioelectric networks: the cognitive glue enabling evolutionary scaling from physiology to mind. Anim Cogn 2023;26(6):1865–1891.
- Tung A, Sperry M, Clawson W, et al. Embryos Assist Each Other’s Morphogenesis: calcium and ATP signaling mechanisms in collective resistance to teratogens. In review 2023.