Optogenetics technology refers to transfection of specific genes into neurons and the neural activity can be turned on and off with the light. After ten years of development, optogenetics has become a mature and stable routine biological technology. This review focuses on the history of optogenetics, its development and various newly developed toolboxes. Finally, the application of optogenetics in neuroscience from the subcellular level to the neural network level and the clinical application in the treatment of blindness and analgesia are introduced.

optogenetics  /  neuron  /  gene therapy