For example, Zeneca has managed to switch the bt gene, which gives maize plants resistance to nasty insects, on and off using another chemical trigger.

ECONOMIST: Terminator genes

In order to operate, our cells constantly switch protein production on and off through specific gene functions.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Dr Audero's experiment did not manipulate the receptor gene directly but, rather, manipulated its activity using the switch.

ECONOMIST: Sudden infant death syndrome

In 2002 MIT professors started a not-for-profit called BioBricks that has collected 2, 000 biological components, including gene sequences that sense light, produce light, send messages between cells and switch cell functions on and off.

FORBES: Architect of Life

Dr Chalfie realised that if the GFP gene could be spliced into a chromosome next to the gene for a protein of interest, it would be controlled by the same genetic switch as that protein.

ECONOMIST: The 2008 Nobel science prizes