Picture's from: https://www.nature.com/articles/456826a https://www.bruker.com/pt/products-and-solutions/fluorescence-microscopy/multiphoton-microscopes/optogenetics.html http://www.tju.edu.cn/english/info/1011/3994.htm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb07TLkJ3Ww https://www.nature.com/articles/456826a

1. Introduction
to
Optogenetics
Optogenetics is a biological technique that uses light to
control cells in living tissues, typically neurons, that have
been genetically modified to express light-sensitive ion
channels.
This technique allows scientists to manipulate the activity of
specific neurons with unprecedented precision, enabling
studies of how different types of neurons contribute to
behavior, cognition, and disease.

2. Historical Approach
• The seeds of optogenetics were sown when
scientists discovered microbial opsins in the
1970s and 80s – proteins that convert light into
electrical signals in simple organisms like algae.
• The crucial step was made by Karl Deisseroth
and Edward Boyden in the early 2000s at
Stanford University, when they decided to
introduce these microbial opsins into neurons.
• By using genetic techniques, they made the
neurons express these opsins, which made the
neurons sensitive to light and thus controllable
by it.

3. Key Milestones
• In 2005, Edward Boyden, Karl Deisseroth, and
Feng Zhang published their seminal work
describing the use of Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)
to control neuronal activity.
• In 2010, Deisseroth's lab developed an improved
method called CLARITY for making brain tissue
transparent to allow better imaging.
• Gero Miesenböck, often considered as the
founding father of optogenetics, used
optogenetic techniques even before microbial
opsins were introduced to neurons, and won the
Brain Prize in 2013 for his pioneering work.

4. Scientific Impact
• Optogenetics has revolutionized
neuroscience by providing a high degree
of control over neural activity, enabling
causal studies of brain function.
• It has been used to understand complex
processes such as vision, movement,
cognition, and even consciousness.
• It is also being explored as a treatment
for diseases such as Parkinson's and
depression.

5. Optogenetics: A New
Light in Cancer Research
• Optogenetics is changing our approach to understanding and potentially
treating cancer.
• It allows precise control over cancer cell growth and metastasis
mechanisms, offering a detailed insight into disease progression.
• It facilitates manipulation of cell signaling pathways often altered in cancer,
enabling us to explore their roles in disease development.
• Through optogenetics, we can control gene expression, providing a unique
approach to investigate the function of specific genes in cancer.
• In cancer immunotherapy, optogenetics can enhance the body's anti-cancer
immune responses by regulating the activity of immune cells.
• Looking to the future, optogenetics could offer highly targeted cancer
therapies, minimizing damage to healthy cells - a promising direction for
cancer treatment.