Switching on brain cells: the Nobel-winning science of optogenetics
Originally published by Citizen Digital — Read the original article →
In optogenetics, scientists control neurones by stimulating them with light — potentially unlocking breakthroughs for conditions such as dementia, depression and blindness.
Three scientists won the Nobel medicine prize on Monday for their work in the field: US neurologist Karl Deisseroth and German scientists Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel.
“Being able to manipulate cells with a combination of light and genetics has been transformational across the biological sciences,” said Simon Schultz, neurotechnology professor at Imperial College London.
