Cell | 2021
How the discovery of microbial opsins led to the development of optogenetics
Abstract
This year s Lasker Award recognizes Dieter Oesterhelt, Peter Hegemann, and Karl Deisseroth for their discovery of microbial opsins as light-activated ion conductors and the development of optogenetics using these proteins to regulate neural activity in awake, behaving animals. Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience and transformed our understanding of brain function.