Light Helps Injured Mice Walk Again 92
Mantrid42 writes "Researchers have been able to affect the brains of lab mice using light. Working in a new field called Optogenetics (optical stimulation plus genetic engineering), scientists injected lab mice with genes that can stimulate or inhibit neural activity based on the color of the light they're exposed to, and can be targeted to infect only on certain cell types. Additionally, another gene has been added to make neurons glow green when firing, allowing two-way communication between a brain and a machine."
Re:Retrofit (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Retrofit (Score:5, Informative)
Of course, adeno-type viruses (either a weakened or non-pathogenic strain is used) are not without risk, particularly if you're planning to use them to infect your brain- meningitis seems like it'd be a real concern here. Right now, viral vector gene therapy is at the level of being an early experimental treatment for conditions like cancers and inherited immunodeficiencies- making your thoughts produce light would be a very off-label use.
READ THE FUCKING ARTICLE (Score:4, Informative)
Re:READ THE FUCKING ARTICLE (Score:3, Informative)
http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/10/16/2345204
An interview on the piece above... interviewer is a bit daft but the researched speaks volumes.
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200910161
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