In Silico Neuroscience: Transegic Mice and Optogenetics

This lecture covers the use of transegic mice in neuroscience, where endogenous regulatory sequences are combined with transgenes to label, record, or manipulate neuronal cell types. It also explores optogenetics, a technique using microbial opsins like Channelrhodopsin-2 and Halorhodopsin to control neural activity. The lecture delves into the principles, history, and applications of these techniques, emphasizing the importance of precise gene expression control and the impact on neuroscience research. Additionally, it discusses the Allen Brain Atlas, a valuable resource for understanding transgene expression in different brain regions.