Researchers from the University of Li猫ge in Belgium and Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, have revealed optical pigments in the eyes of mantis shrimp that respond to different colors of light, a discovery that may contribute to the development of new techniques for controlling cell activity.
The scientific website Phys.org reported on Sunday that the study, published in the journal Science Advances, showed that some optical pigments in the eyes of this marine creature can switch between two states when exposed to red or blue light, giving them properties that could be useful in medical and biological research.
Reversible Properties
The researchers explained that these pigments are characterized by their ability to respond to light in a reversible manner, as some can be activated by red light and their activity stopped by blue light, while other pigments respond to colors in the opposite way.
Applications in Optogenetics
The importance of this discovery lies in the potential to utilize these properties to develop light-based tools for controlling the activity of specific cells, a technique known as "optogenetics," which is used in research to study the functions of nerve cells and brain mechanisms.
The researchers pointed out that red light can penetrate tissues deeper than blue light and is less harmful to cells, which may make it useful in developing more precise means of controlling signals within cells.
Research and Development Stage
These applications are still in the research and development stage, as the scientific team works on improving the properties of the discovered pigments and understanding their mechanism of action, paving the way for studying their potential use in future research and medical applications.
This discovery highlights the importance of studying marine organisms and their natural properties to inspire new technologies that may contribute to the development of medical research and understanding of biological processes within the body.
The mantis shrimp is a small aquatic crustacean that lives in seas and oceans, with some species inhabiting freshwater, and is also known as prawn or shrimp.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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