Living Lasers

1. Living Lasers Discovery How is this possible? Applications Living lasers could help scientists observe living cells more precisely than before, allowing them to observe intracellular processes at a higher resolution and in more detail. Usually, lasers are created using inert materials, such as from purified gases or semiconductors. Recently, physicists Andy Yun and Malte Gather were able to create a laser from living cells by making them fluoresce. The technique involves combining the gene of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) with a gene of theoretically any other protein, so that the GFP can be attached to that particular protein. By doing so, the protein will fluoresce. Next, an intense blue laser with energy of approximately 1 nJ or greater is focused on a cell attached with GFP, causing the protein within the cell to fluoresce much greater than before. At this state, the cell emits green light at just a few well-defined peaks in its spectrum, at which point the researchers argue the cell is lasing. Furthermore, due to a more precise image of intracellular processes, living lasers could help distinguish cancerous cells from benign cells, or similarly, distinguish cells infected with a virus or other diseases from cells that are healthy. Due to the non-invasive nature of the living laser, scientists could even observe active cells from within a living animal or human, allowing for greater knowledge of intracellular processes in a particular cell’s native environment. Sources: physicsworld.com, protomag.com Source: physicsworld.com