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Light Workout: Optogenetics Stimulates Mouse Muscles

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STANFORD, Calif., Sept. 27, 2010 — Light has been used to effectively stimulate muscle movement in mice optically, rather than electrically. In a study involving bioengineered mice whose nerve-cell surfaces are coated with special light-sensitive proteins, researchers at Stanford University were able to use light to induce normal patterns of muscle contraction. The new approach allows scientists to more accurately reproduce muscle firing order, making it a valuable research tool. The investigators, from Stanford’s schools of medicine and of engineering, also believe this technique could someday spawn...Read full article

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    Published: September 2010
    Glossary
    light
    Electromagnetic radiation detectable by the eye, ranging in wavelength from about 400 to 750 nm. In photonic applications light can be considered to cover the nonvisible portion of the spectrum which includes the ultraviolet and the infrared.
    optogenetics
    A discipline that combines optics and genetics to enable the use of light to stimulate and control cells in living tissue, typically neurons, which have been genetically modified to respond to light. Only the cells that have been modified to include light-sensitive proteins will be under control of the light. The ability to selectively target cells gives researchers precise control. Using light to control the excitation, inhibition and signaling pathways of specific cells or groups of...
    AmericasBio-XbioengineeringBiophotonicsbrain injurycerebral palsycontractionsDeisserothDelpfast-twitchfiber opticsfiberslightLight Sourceslight-sensitive proteinsLlewellynmicemotor nerve fibersmotor unitsmuscle movementmusclesNature Medicinenervenerve celloptical cuffopticallyoptogeneticsparalyzedproteinResearch & Technologyspinal cordStanford UniversitystimulationLEDs

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