Gero Miesenböck

In this engaging discussion, Gero Miesenböck, a renowned Professor of Physiology at Oxford and pioneer in optogenetics, explores the biological roots of sleep. He reveals how mitochondrial metabolism in neurons creates a need for sleep to manage harmful byproducts. From jellyfish to humans, Gero explains sleep's universal presence and links it to ancient metabolic adaptations. He discusses how sleep-inducing neurons in fruit flies sense lipid peroxidation and the impact of body size on sleep requirements. Dive into the intricate relationship between sleep and cellular health!