Scientist Study Vision Gene
June 13, 2001
A recent study uncovered a gene crucial to the development of nerve connections between the brain and the eye. Scientists hope that this discovery will lead them to new treatments for some rare eye disorders. The study involved zebrafish, as lower vertebrates like the zebrafish, frogs and some other insects have genetic factors similar to humans. The study found that the nerve connections between the brain and eye did not function if a specific gene (astray) was missing or malformed.
To facilitate their study, researchers bred zebrafish with a mutant form of the gene astray. The nerve connections in these fish connected randomly to places in the brain instead of connecting the eyes directly to the necessary part of the brain to allow normal eye functioning. To correct this problem, researchers then transplanted healthy eyes into the zebrafish and found that the nerve connections corrected themselves. The researchers also found that the reverse was true. When normal functioning eyes were replaced with eyes containing the mutated gene, the nerve connections to the brain did not work properly.
One of the main goals of the study was to find out how the connections are made from the eyes to the brain. Researchers hope that the research will help them treat rare eye disorders.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
More ...
- Post-Lasik Dry Eyes Can Be Serious
- New York Product Liability Lawsuit Involving LASIK Surgery Seeks $40 Million
- Former Airline Pilot Awarded $4 Million in Case Involving LASIK Surgery
.