optogenetics Archives

7 July 2025 In the front, a neuron has a power switch on its surface. Two rays of light, one violet, the other one red, illuminate the switch. In the background, an iceberg floating at the sea is visible.

In the front, a neuron has a power switch on its surface. Two rays of light, one violet, the other one red, illuminate the switch. In the background, an iceberg floating at the sea is visible.

Some like it cold: cryorhodopsins

‘Cryorhodopsins’ are a group of unusual and colourful microbial molecules found exclusively in cold environments. Some of them are blue, a rare and sought-after light-absorption property. They are the first observed molecules that can act as both ‘on’ and ‘off’ switches for electrical…

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2025

science-technology

16 November 2022 Photo of Kirill Kovalev adjusting the sample injector at EMBL Hamburg’s P14 beamline.

Molecular solar panels can help scientists control brain cells

Kirill Kovalev, an EMBL Hamburg researcher, is studying the structure of an ancient bacterial molecule to help scientists control brain cell activity

EMBLetc

2022

20 October 2022 On th eleft side of the image we see a rounded cell colony in green. Below that image we see a lateral slice of the colony that is flat. On the right side of the image we see a cell colony in green. Below that image we see a lateral slice of the colony that has folded.

On th eleft side of the image we see a rounded cell colony in green. Below that image we see a lateral slice of the colony that is flat. On the right side of the image we see a cell colony in green. Below that image we see a lateral slice of the colony that has folded.

The power of light: folding 3D tissues

EMBL Barcelona researchers have developed a tool that can use light to control the shape of cells .

2022

science

3 July 2019 Super-resolution image of the basal surface of a cellularising Drosophila embryo.

Actin crosslinking plays key role in tissue morphogenesis

New insights into mechanisms behind embryonic development

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2019

sciencescience-technology

15 November 2018 Top view picture of modified and natural invagination in a tissue

Controlling organ growth with light

The De Renzis group investigated invagination, the first step of organ development in embryos.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2018

sciencescience-technology

18 June 2018 Three examples of the tissue shapes the team created. The black and white square, circle and triangle on the left correspond to the cells that were illuminated. On the right, three fruit fly embryos are shown in cyan, magenta and yellow, demonstrating how the illuminated cells folded inwards after the light-activation. IMAGE: Stefano De Renzis, EMBL

Three examples of the tissue shapes the team created. The black and white square, circle and triangle on the left correspond to the cells that were illuminated. On the right, three fruit fly embryos are shown in cyan, magenta and yellow, demonstrating how the illuminated cells folded inwards after the light-activation. IMAGE: Stefano De Renzis, EMBL

Constructing new tissue shapes with light

EMBL researchers guide the shape of cells and tissues with optogenetics

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2018

sciencescience-technology

8 February 2018 Optogenetics has successfully been used in a diverse range of organisms.

EMBL’s first wetlab e-learning courses go live

EMBL’s training programme launches its first e-learning courses: introductions to optogenetics and CLEM

EMBL ANNOUNCEMENTS

2018

embl-announcementsevents

21 April 2016 Giorgia Guglielmi 's PhD project puts development in a new light. PHOTO: EMBL Photolab/Marietta Schupp

Light control

EMBL PhD project puts development in a new light

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

2016

sciencescience-technology

19 November 2015 When illuminated with a laser, individual cells (bright yellow) within the fruit fly embryo cannot contract. This novel optogenetic approach helped to get insights into how tissues bend.