It may come as a shock to learn that we are, all of us, electric. That is, every cell and organ in our body is wired with an electrical charge, which changes as circumstances dictate.
The importance of electricity in our bodies has been known for centuries, but its biological importance has been understated, says author Sally Adee – a science writer and former technology features editor at the New Scientist – because of its link to engineering.
We know electricity as the invisible force that powers the smart devices that inform and entertain us, enable us to cook our food, drive our cars, and keep our homes warm. We don’t think of electricity as something biological that regulates our beating heart, enables us to feel something soft or hard, signals a limb to move, or stave off cancer.
Yet, scientists are finding that these things – and more – would not be possible without the natural biological electricity that courses through every cell and atom of our bodies.
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We have heard that the genome – our entire genetic DNA code – determines what sex and race we are, what colour eyes we have, the height we reach, and even our personalities. However, how many of us are aware of what the author describes as the electrome, the entire electrical current present throughout the body, and how it powers our biology?
It is staggering to learn here that scientists are using algorithms to decode the electrical signals from our brain, and, thus, read our thoughts
Indeed, it could be argued that the electrome is even more important than the genome. For example, the genome decides whether we have brown or blue eyes, but there is no ‘gene’ to say that we should have two eyes, on either side of our head; the electrome does that.
The author also tells us – in her often amusing, always engaging style – that it is the electrome that determines where our heart, brain or kidneys should be located. If any of the electricity goes wrong, then the embryo can’t develop into a healthy child.
Aside from driving the beat of our heart, we are perhaps most familiar with the natural electricity sparking across the neurons in our brain, while we think and feel emotions.
It is staggering to learn here that scientists are using algorithms to decode the electrical signals from our brain, and, thus, read our thoughts. Or that scientists could tap into our natural ability to regrow damaged limbs or organs by harnessing our bioelectricity.
Our future appears electric, and this book does a great job of explaining why.
