Yin-yang ways of controlling gene expression are now in our hands.
Molecular biologists have long dreamed of switching genes on and off at will in any part of the body during embryonic development. Their dream is now coming true thanks to the transparency of the embryonic body of the zebrafish ( Danio rerio), which has made gene manipulation by photoillumination possible.
Laboratory for Developmental Gene Regulation, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan. hitoshi@brain.riken.jp
Hitoshi
H
Okamoto
D000818:Animals; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D016709:Yin-Yang; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism