Ce este optogenetica, descoperirea care a câștigat Premiul Nobel pentru Medicină în 2026

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for optogenetics, a technique allowing the observation of how nerve cells shape memories and behaviors in living brains. Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel discovered channelrhodopsin in a unicellular alga, while Karl Deisseroth developed it into a light-controlled switch for nerve cells. This breakthrough enables researchers to map brain circuits related to memories and emotions, significantly advancing neuroscience. Optogenetics has also shown promise in clinical applications, such as restoring vision in individuals with visual impairments. The Nobel Committee emphasized its transformative impact on understanding brain function.