Optogenetics: Meaning and Significance

Optogentics uses techniques from optics and genetics to control and measure the activities of particular cells of living tissue, typically neurons. Under the technology, a gene for a light-sensitive protein, such as channel rhodopsin from algae, is inserted into the DNA of a specific cell. Then the cell starts producing the protein on their surfaces. These cells when exposed to light, the protein excites the cell to generate an electric current that is used by cell to communicate with other cells.  That means we can activate a specific neuron located at a particular part of the brain as per our interest. Optogenetics acts as a switch to turn brain cells on and off like a light.

Significance of the technology

Scientists are already using the technology to make an animal to perform the required physical activity by controlling its brain cells. It is also possible to alter memories that are formed when the animal interacting with different environments. What makes the technology more exciting to neuroscientists is control over defied activities in a defined cell at a defined time with high-level precision. Previously, non-genetic approaches such as fluorescent dyes are used to increase cell illumination in response to activity, but they lack the precision of targeting a particular type of cell. Biological understanding of functioning of a cell requires a high level of precision because even a millisecond change in a neuron firing can affect the whole nervous system. A millisecond scale timing precision is essential for finding defects in the normal brain functioning and understanding problems such as Parkinsonism and Epilepsy. The optogenetic tools also hold promise in modulating activities of brain in neurological disorders or restoring vision loss. In the future gene therapy with the optogenetic tools may be a possibility.

One of the obstacles in use of the technique is overlapping between wavelengths used for stimulation of biological processes and those used for observation. Now most of the research is focussed on finding proteins whose wavelengths don’t overlap. Overcoming this problem will allow the optogenetics tools to further revolutionize neuroscience.