Researchers create first human heart cells that can be paced with light

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 12:30 in Biology & Nature

Researchers have for the first time engineered human heart cells that can be paced with light using a technology called optogenetics. In the near term, say the researchers, the advance will provide new insight into heart function. In the long term, however, the development could lead to an era of novel, light-based pacemakers and genetically matched tissue patches that replace muscle damaged by a heart attack.

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