Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now mapped thousands of so-called enhancers; small DNA sequences that act like “switches” for genes, turning them on or boosting their activity.

By analyzing individual cell nuclei from mice with spinal cord injuries using AI models, the researchers discovered that these genetic switches are activated after injury and instruct specific cell types to respond. The main cells affected were glial cells such as astrocytes and ependymal cells—support cells that help protect and repair the nervous system.