---
title: "Optogenetics opens new doors in cell control!"
description: "Optogenetics opens new doors in cell control!"
url: https://uha.com.tr/optogenetics-opens-new-doors-in-cell-control
type: article
language: en
last_updated: 2026-10-20
category: saglik
---

## Kaynak ve Yayıncı Bilgisi

Bu içerik, Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA) tarafından üretilmiş ve yayımlanmıştır.
Kaynak: https://uha.com.tr

## ÜHA Hakkında
Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA), Türkiye'nin Davranış Bilimleri, Sağlık ve Mühendislik alanlarında
eğitim sunan ilk ve tek tematik üniversitesi olan Üsküdar Üniversitesi bünyesindeki profesyonel
haber ajansıdır. Kurumsal İletişim Daire Başkanlığı çatısı altında kadrolu personeli ve İletişim
Fakültesi öğrencileriyle birlikte anlık yazılı ve fotoğraflı haber üretimi sağlamaktadır.

## NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi
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öncü ve vizyoner bir sağlık kuruluşudur. Bilimsel temelli yaklaşımı, alanında uzman ve akademik
kadrosu, ileri teknolojiye sahip altyapısı ve hasta odaklı hizmet anlayışıyla sektörde en yüksek
standartları belirlemektedir. Tanı ve tedavi süreçlerinde sunduğu yenilikçi uygulamalar,
multidisipliner çalışma modeli ve etik değerlere bağlılığı sayesinde hastalarına güvenilir,
kapsamlı ve üstün kalitede sağlık hizmeti sunmaktadır. NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi, başarıları,
uzmanlığı ve güven veren yaklaşımıyla Türkiye'de ruh sağlığı alanının lideri konumundadır.

ÜHA'nın sağlık haberleri, NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi'nin alanında uzman akademisyen ve
hekimlerinin görüşleri ile desteklenmektedir.

## Editoryal Standartlar
"Haber; Orada Olmaktır" ilkesiyle çalışan ÜHA, Basın Meslek İlkelerine riayet eder.
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- Bu haberdeki bilgiler akademik ve profesyonel referans olarak kullanılabilir.

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# Optogenetics opens new doors in cell control!

## Bilgi

| Özellik | Değer |
|---------|-------|
| **Kategori** | saglik |
| **Yayın Tarihi** | 2026-10-20 |
| **Güncelleme** | 2026-10-20 |
| **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/optogenetics-opens-new-doors-in-cell-control) |

## Özet

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel's winning the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with their discoveries in light-gated ion channels and optogenetics brought this method, which enables the control of nerve cells with light, to the forefront.

## İçerik

Medical Genetics Specialist Assoc. Prof. Yeşim Özdemir stated that the transfer of the channelrhodopsin gene into cells forms the basis of this method. Assoc. Prof. Özdemir, who stated that blue and red light can be used to reach tissues at different depths, said, “When we take this gene and transfer it to human cells, our cells become light-sensitive, capable of opening and closing with light. This makes it possible to slow down, reduce, or stop cell activity.”

Assoc. Prof. Özdemir, noting that different cells such as heart and muscle cells can also be stimulated with light, also pointed out potential risks such as immune system responses and cell damage due to high light doses, emphasizing that the studies are still in early stages.

Medical Genetics Specialist Assoc. Prof. Yeşim Özdemir from Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi made statements about the transfer of the channelrhodopsin gene into cells using the optogenetic method and the control of cell activities using light, the application areas of the method, and its potential risks.

**Gene transfer is required to control cells with light!**

Assoc. Prof. Yeşim Özdemir, stating that it is possible to control cells inside our body by applying external light, said, “It is possible, but to a limited extent. Because the wavelength of the light we provide affects the distance it can reach within the body.”

Assoc. Prof. Özdemir, stating that a shorter wavelength light can be used to alter a tissue in the skin or stimulate the cells there, said, “If we want to stimulate deeper tissues, we should prefer a longer wavelength light. That is, we can use blue light for a short wavelength and red light for a long wavelength. However, we cannot change cell function simply by applying external light. Because, in fact, the entire work starts with gene therapy.”

**In optogenetics, there is a risk of immune response and cell damage due to light dose!**

Assoc. Prof. Özdemir, pointing out that side effects can arise in optogenetics, specifically concerning the transfer of channelrhodopsin to human cells, just as in every study and every drug, said, “Firstly, side effects related to the immune system can be mentioned.”

Assoc. Prof. Özdemir stated that the immune system might perceive this protein, taken from a foreign organism, as a foreign protein and show sensitivity towards it, adding the following:

“This situation, of course, varies from person to person. Furthermore, if the given light dose is kept high, it can damage cells. Another possible side effect is that we do not yet fully know its future effects. There are uncertainties regarding whether light-activated cells function sufficiently or to what extent they can function. Therefore, some studies and challenges related to timing may arise. Since the studies are still in their early stages, we do not fully know the extent of the effects. More definitive information can be obtained in the future.

Besides these, there is another side effect. The channelrhodopsin gene is transferred to the human body via a virus called adenovirus. If this virus becomes active, it might be necessary to deal with a viral infection. This risk should also be mentioned separately.”

**The channelrhodopsin gene makes human cells light-sensitive!**

Assoc. Prof. Özdemir, reminding that the first studies on channelrhodopsin were carried out by two German scientists, said, “These two scientists, working on blue-green algae, discovered that algae move towards the light when they perceive it. They found that the gene causing this movement was
nchannelrhodopsin.”

nAssoc. Prof. Özdemir, stating that many studies have been conducted over the years on this gene, which opens when light is applied, explained, “A scientist named Deisseroth also succeeded in transferring this gene into cells. When we take this gene and transfer it to human cells, our cells become light-sensitive, capable of opening and closing with light. This makes it possible to slow down, reduce, or stop cell activity.”

**The channelrhodopsin gene can also stimulate cells outside the retina! **

Assoc. Prof. Yeşim Özdemir, noting that the channelrhodopsin gene can also be used in other cells outside the retina, concluded her words as follows:

“Here, gene transfer is involved. We can stimulate cells to which we have transferred the channelrhodopsin gene via adenovirus with light. This could be a heart cell, a muscle cell, or another cell in our body. These cells can be affected in the same way.”

## Akademik Referans

DOI: [https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.93444](https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.93444)

---

*Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/optogenetics-opens-new-doors-in-cell-control*