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Could ALGAE cure blindness? Transplanting organism into the retina ‘could one day restore sight to…’
Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 13:15 EST, 11 September 2015 | Malden Davies

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 ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: algae; blindness; michigan; retrosense
Full title: Could ALGAE cure blindness? Transplanting organism into the retina ‘could one day restore sight to the blind’
1 posted on 09/12/2015 3:34:26 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: Olog-hai

Transplanting a gene into retinal cells is a bit different than transplanting an organism into the retina.


2 posted on 09/12/2015 3:50:46 AM PDT by oblomov
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To: Olog-hai

Disclaimer: Don’t try this at home kids


3 posted on 09/12/2015 4:02:11 AM PDT by Artie (We are surrounded by MORONS)
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To: Olog-hai

So, just get some pond scum and rub it it your eyes?


4 posted on 09/12/2015 4:08:39 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (Celebrate "Republican Freed the Slaves" month.)
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To: oblomov

“potentially allowing limited vision. …”

Like a general, diffuse sense where a source of light is?


5 posted on 09/12/2015 4:14:18 AM PDT by OldNewYork
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To: Olog-hai

“.….gonna turn your brown eyes green”


6 posted on 09/12/2015 4:27:15 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: oblomov; Olog-hai

You get it! The writer of that cracked headline does not!!!!


7 posted on 09/12/2015 5:06:02 AM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: oblomov

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.


8 posted on 09/12/2015 5:14:27 AM PDT by GailA (mises to Our Troops, you won't keep them to anyone. Ret. SCPO's wife)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER

Jesus did that Jn 9:6


9 posted on 09/12/2015 5:45:23 AM PDT by Bayard
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