Optical Techniques for Gene Expression and DNA-Manipulation; A Review of Advances

The intersection of optics and molecular biology has created revolutionary tools for DNA manipulation and gene regulation. This review synthesizes cutting-edge research on optical techniques for genetic engineering, including photoactivatable Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), systems that enable programmable DNA cleavage and light-based editing, laser-assisted transfection methods, and optogenetic gene switches. We discuss the fundamental mechanisms enabling optical control of genetic processes and highlight emerging applications in biomedical research, therapeutic development, and synthetic biology. Although the use of optics in genetic applications is constrained by several critical challenges—such as the shallow penetration depth of light in tissue, adverse phototoxic effects, and insufficient delivery efficiency—the optical approaches are transforming fundamental DNA research, offering new pathways for genomic analysis, cancer therapy, and precise gene editing technologies.

کلیدواژه ها:

DNA synthesis ، Gene Expression ، Optical techniques ، Light ، CRISPR ، Optogenetics