Lighting Up the Brain
The Science of Optogenetics
What if neuroscientists could look inside the human brain and watch individual brain cells send signals to one another? What if they could then control these brain cells to direct thoughts and actions?
This may sound like science fiction, but it’s actually a scientific revolution called optogenetics. Neuroscientists would like to use this new technology on human brains to uncover secrets about how the brain processes information and drives human behavior. Doctors hope to use optogenetics to restore sight and to treat Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and other debilitating or deadly health problems. Discover how the innovative work of leaders in the field is poised to radically transform science, medicine, and human health.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-5124-2752-3
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$26.99 | |
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978-1-5415-2198-8
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$40.99 |
| Interest Level | Grade 6 - Grade 12 |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 8 |
| Genre | Science, Young Adult |
| Category | 5 Kinds of Nonfiction, 5KN: Traditional Nonfiction, STEM, STEM: Technology |
| Copyright | 2018 |
| Publisher | Lerner Publishing Group |
| Imprint | Twenty-First Century Books ™ |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 80 |
| Publication Date | 2018-01-01 |
Author: Marc Zimmer
Marc Zimmer is the author of several nonfiction young adult books and a professor at Connecticut College, where he teaches chemistry and studies the proteins involved in producing light in jellyfish and fireflies. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and did his post-doc at Yale University. He has published articles on science and medicine for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and the Huffington Post, among many other publications. He lives in Waterford, Connecticut with his wife, their two children, and a genetically modified fluorescent mouse named Prometheus.
Reviews
VOYA
“[A] helpful resource . . . user-friendly to a general audience.”—VOYA
Booklist
“[W]ill be useful for students doing reports on new research techniques in the field of neuroscience.”—Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
“An intriguing and informative introduction to the field of neuroscience and the frontiers of modern brain research.”—Kirkus Reviews