Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41912340›Full record

ReviewGenes & development2026

Lights up on the embryonic dance: tools and applications of optogenetics in developmental biology.

Yang Gao, Emily K Ho, Jared E Toettcher

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Genes & development, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. The regulatory logic of a dose-dependent developmental fate decision.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yang Gao *Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA.
Emily K Ho *Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA; toettcher@princeton.edu emily.kolenbranderho@claremontmckenna.edu.
Jared E ToettcherDepartment of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA; toettcher@princeton.edu emily.kolenbranderho@claremontmckenna.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-1546-4030

Funding

A new class of biosensors for detecting signaling dynamics without live-cell microscopyR01GM144362 · NIGMS · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · PI TOETTCHER, JARED E · 2022 to 2025
$1.3M
Optogenetic dissection of Erk signal interpretation in early embryogenesisF32GM148016 · NIGMS · PRINCETON UNIVERSITY · PI HO, EMILY KOLENBRANDER · 2023 to 2024
$146k
NIGMS NIH HHS F32 GM148016NIGMS NIH HHS R01 GM144362
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

In developmental biology, cellular events must be orchestrated at precise times and locations in the embryo. Many classic discoveries were achieved by perturbing developmental organization using approaches ranging from tissue transplantation to local, acute heat shock. A growing suite of optogenetic tools is now available with fine spatiotemporal control, opening the door to perturbation experiments with unprecedented precision. Here we highlight these tools, review their application in developmental contexts, and discuss their current challenges and future promise.

Indexed as

Developmental BiologyOptogeneticsAnimalsHumanscell engineeringdevelopmental biologyoptogenetics

Identifiers

PMID41912340
PMCPMC13138335

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.