Optogenetics is a biological research method that combines optics and genetics in technologies to control (by eliciting or inhibiting) well-defined events in cells of living animal tissue. Opogenetics, unlike previously developed experimental methods of light control, enables researchers to use light to turn cells on or off in living, freely moving animals with remarkable precision and resolution (down to individual cells or even regions of cells). As a result, it can not only be used to control specific animal behaviours, such as triggering or blocking fear or pain responses, but also to deduce the contributions of individual cells to those behaviours.
To map the functional connectivity of the brain, optogenetic techniques have also been introduced. Researchers can identify statistical dependencies between cells and brain regions by altering the activity of genetically labelled neurons with light and recording the activity of other cells using imaging and electrophysiology techniques.
Opogenetics, in a broader sense, includes methods for recording cellular activity using genetically encoded indicators. The interdisciplinary research journal Nature Methods named optogenetics the "Method of the Year" in all fields of science and engineering in 2010. Simultaneously, optogenetics was highlighted in an article in the academic research journal Science titled "Breakthroughs of the Decade."
Recent advances in optogenetics have revolutionised the field of neuroscience by allowing for the investigation of the causal relationship between neuronal activity and behaviour. The growing number of optogenetic actuators and sensors, as well as transgenic lines expressing these actuators, provide powerful tools for understanding neuronal circuit function. Furthermore, advances in microscopic techniques aided in the investigation of brain function, particularly by enabling whole-brain optical approaches.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 300 million people worldwide were affected by depression in 2017, making it the leading cause of disability such as low self-esteem, boredom, and a lack of direction or purpose. Furthermore, rapid technological advancements such as ultrafast laser tools, LEDs, and ytterbium-based lasers are driving the growth of the optogenetics market. However, healthcare professionals' reluctance to adopt new technology due to high deployment costs, a lack of awareness about the tools in emerging economies, and a lack of genetic reagents that can be conveniently used for probing biological processes are factors impeding the growth of the optogenetics market.
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