Remote controlled mice

Scientists from the Korean Institute KAIST have created cyborg mice. They blindly obey the orders of the human operators, completely ignoring their natural urges, including hunger, and traverse the laboratory maze on demand until they lose their strength. For this, optogenetics was used, a method recently described in Young Technique.

The research team "burst" into the brains of mice with the help of wires inserted there. The optogenetic method made it possible to manipulate the activity of neurons in living tissue. Activating and deactivating activity involves the use of special proteins that react to light.

Koreans believe that their research opens the way to using animals for various tasks instead of remote-controlled cars. Compared to rigid and error-prone robotic structures, they are much more flexible and able to navigate difficult terrain.

said Daesoo Kim, head of the IEEE Spectrum research project. -.