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Light-guided evolution creates proteins that can switch, sense, and compute
General • March 9, 2026
Researchers have
created a
method called optovolution that uses light to guide the
evolution of proteins with dynamic behaviors. By engineering yeast cells so their survival depended on proteins switching states at the right time, scientists could rapidly select the best-performing variants. The technique produced new light-sensitive proteins that respond to different colors and improved optogenetic systems. It even evolved a protein that behaves like a tiny logic gate, activating genes only when two signals are present.
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