Illuminating developmental biology with cellular optogenetics. Author Heath Johnson, Jared Toettcher Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract In developmental biology, localization is everything. The same stimulus-cell signaling event or expression of a gene-can have dramatically different effects depending on the time, spatial position, and cell types in which it is applied. Yet the field has long lacked the ability to deliver localized perturbations with high specificity in vivo. The advent of optogenetic tools, capable of delivering highly localized stimuli, is thus poised to profoundly expand our understanding of development. We describe the current state-of-the-art in cellular optogenetic tools, review the first wave of major studies showcasing their application in vivo, and discuss major obstacles that must be overcome if the promise of developmental optogenetics is to be fully realized. Keywords Animals, Humans, Signal Transduction, Light, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Optogenetics, Developmental Biology Journal Curr Opin Biotechnol Volume 52 Pages 42-48 Date Published 2018 Aug ISSN Number 1879-0429 DOI 10.1016/j.copbio.2018.02.003 Alternate Journal Curr Opin Biotechnol PMCID PMC6082700 PMID 29505976 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML