ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Genetically encoded voltage indicator

Okay kiddo, let's talk about something called a genetically encoded voltage indicator. Have you ever heard of genes before? They are like tiny instructions that are inside our bodies that tell our cells what to do. Scientists can use these genes to make special tools that can help them understand how our body works.

One of these special tools is called a voltage indicator. It helps scientists see how electricity moves through our body, kind of like when you turn on a light switch and the lightbulb turns on. The voltage indicator works by changing color when electricity flows through it.

But here's the really cool part - scientists have figured out how to put this voltage indicator gene into other living things, like animals and plants. This means that scientists can study how electricity moves in these living things without harming them. They can even use this tool to understand how the brain works and how the body responds to different things.

So, in summary, a genetically encoded voltage indicator is a special tool that scientists make using a gene to study how electricity moves through living things without harming them. It helps them understand how our body works and can even help with research on the brain. Pretty neat, huh?