New gene therapy can help blind see
If
the rods and cones that make up the photoreceptors of the eye fail
because of injury or illness, then people I can lose their sight
entirely .
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Scientists might be able to change the cells in blind people's eyes, giving them the power to see again.
If the rods and cones that make up the photoreceptors of the eye fail because of injury or illness, then people I can lose their sight entirely . Now, scientists hope that they can use gene therapy to transform nerves in the eye to replace those lost photoreceptors.
The technique, developed by Zhuo-Hua Pan of Wayne State University in Detroit, is part of a new field called optogenetics, which uses molecules from algae or other mi croorganisms that respond to light and put them into nerve cells to transform them so that they can receive light.
Apart from helping blind people see, the new field has also given in sight into how the brain works.
It can even be used to alter me mories. Experts hope that they can use the technique to restore the sight of blind people -a technique that has al ready worked on animals.
Studies in humans could be gin next year.
If the rods and cones that make up the photoreceptors of the eye fail because of injury or illness, then people I can lose their sight entirely . Now, scientists hope that they can use gene therapy to transform nerves in the eye to replace those lost photoreceptors.
The technique, developed by Zhuo-Hua Pan of Wayne State University in Detroit, is part of a new field called optogenetics, which uses molecules from algae or other mi croorganisms that respond to light and put them into nerve cells to transform them so that they can receive light.
Apart from helping blind people see, the new field has also given in sight into how the brain works.
It can even be used to alter me mories. Experts hope that they can use the technique to restore the sight of blind people -a technique that has al ready worked on animals.
Studies in humans could be gin next year.
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