Power of light: These diabetic mice have been implanted with cells genetically engineered to trigger insulin production when exposed to blue light.

Imagine an implantable bolus containing a patient’s own cells which have been reengineered to contain a light sensitive protein that acts as a switch regulating a hormone expression such as insulin. Then, add a fiber-optic cable which allows that switch to be turned on and off as needed.  This is how researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology envision controlling genomic and protein expressions in a field they call optogenetics.            MORE

Image Credit: AAAS/Science and Technology Review