Molecular imaging - In vivo imaging of gene expression: MR and optical technologies

With the ability to readily engineer genes, create knock-in and knock-out m odels of human disease, and replace and insert genes in clinical trials of gene therapy, it has become clear that imaging will play a critical role in these fields. Imaging is particularly helpful in recording temporal and sp atial resolution of gene expression in vivo, determining vector distributio n, and, ultimately, understanding endogenous gene expression during disease development. While endeavors are under way to image targets ranging from D NA to entire phenotypes in vivo, this short review focuses on in vivo imagi ng of gene expression with magnetic resonance and optical techniques.