Lock, Stock, Broke, and Dope

Kendall Research's devices could make optogenetics research much more practical.

Optogenetics can use lights to control cells in the brain to manipulate behavior of its host and maybe one day deliver treatment. Kendall Research has been able to developed a small, lightweight "wireless" prototypes. Much smaller then previous ones used which were bulky and made it difficult to work with. The devices will be used on mice and other small animals. Optogenetics can genetically alter certain cells allowing them to respond to light signals, and stimulate them with a laser to turn cells off or on. The previous prototypes would use lasers, but with these new devices Kendall was able to use LED's which makes the device much more compact allowing the test subject to move freely. Casey Halpern, one of several researchers beta-testing the device says "You almost can't do any behavioral experiment in a meaningful way.." If by meaningful you mean the leaders of the new world will be able to literally control their people in the near future, then yes. Yes it can... Ok, so maybe it's not at that level and we're not doomed just yet..