Potential control has been used to release DNA from the surface of carbon electrodes under physiological pH. The protocol relies on the electrostatic adsorption of dsDNA onto a pretreated carbon-paste microelectrode, followed by an on-demand electrostatic desorption at - 1.20 V (versus Ag AgCl). The procedure represents a potentially attractive route for delivering the genetic material to specific locations. Various parameters influencing the release of the surface-confined DNA into the solution are explored and optimized in connection with square-wave voltammetric 'blocking' experiments, adsorptive-transfer stripping potentiometry, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Prospects and challenges of using DNA-modified microelectrodes for carrying therapeutic genes are discussed.