Posted on 09/12/2015 3:34:26 AM PDT by Olog-hai
An algae found commonly in ponds could provide a cure for blindness, according to one US biotechnology company.
Retrosense, a Michigan-based firm, hopes to transplant a light-sensitive protein from a specific type of algae into the eyes of blind people, to restore their sight.
The company will soon begin human clinical trials, after the transplanting process was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last month, WIRED reports.
The algae, called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a simple single-cell organism that lives in dirt and water. It cannot see, but has a primitive “eye-spot”, allowing it to sense where the sun is and move around the pond so it is in the light. Then it can convert the sun’s light into energy through photosynthesis. Like human eyes, the eye-spot uses light-sensitive proteins, one of which is called channelrhodopsin-2.
RetroSense are now hoping transplanting the gene for this algal protein into the eyes of blind people will help them to see again. The gene will be put inside a vector, and injected into the eye, causing previously non-light sensitive cells to be converted into light-sensitive cells, potentially allowing limited vision. …
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Transplanting a gene into retinal cells is a bit different than transplanting an organism into the retina.
Disclaimer: Don’t try this at home kids
So, just get some pond scum and rub it it your eyes?
“potentially allowing limited vision. …”
Like a general, diffuse sense where a source of light is?
“.….gonna turn your brown eyes green”
You get it! The writer of that cracked headline does not!!!!
Have to agree with you. I’ve had both cataracts removed, but still have to wear multi-focal glasses..no lines..as my Astagamisim is that bad. I don’t see well with out my glasses at any distance. Even the large road signs I have to be on top of to see well. I do NO night driving and haven’t in over a decade.
I’m left with no Peripheral vision, and they can only correct me to 20/30 which is not the best vision in the world.
Jesus did that Jn 9:6
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.