Perhaps soon people who have lost their sight will again have the opportunity to enjoy the colors of the world around them. Scientists from the University of California continue to work on a new invention for the blind, which is very promising.
Developed by scientists – a new gene therapy that studies have shown can restore vision. The experiments were carried out on mice and dogs, thanks to the development of scientists in animals with retinal degeneration, a reaction to light was detected.
The achievement of such an effect was made possible by using a virus whose genome is introduced into one of the ion channels of the affected retinal cells. Then there is an attachment to the ion channels of "photoswitches" - compounds that change their shape when exposed to light. This causes the channels to open up in response to light exposure. As a result, retinal cells are activated and photosensitivity is restored.
Previous gene therapy experiments have helped blind mice navigate the maze. Exactly the same results were shown by experiments with dogs, and, as you know, the retina of these animals is very similar to the human.
This is a revolutionary discovery – the first step towards the development of a drug for the complete restoration of vision, which can change the lives of millions of people for the better.
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