Totally blind mice get sight back

[xchrom]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20898935

***SNIP

Patients with retinitis pigmentosa gradually lose light-sensing cells from the retina and can become blind.


The research team, at the University of Oxford, used mice with a complete lack of light-sensing photoreceptor cells in their retinas. The mice were unable to tell the difference between light and dark.

Reconstruction

They injected "precursor" cells which will develop into the building blocks of a retina once inside the eye. Two weeks after the injections a retina had formed, according to the findings presented in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.

Prof Robert MacLaren said: "We have recreated the whole structure, basically it's the first proof that you can take a completely blind mouse, put the cells in and reconstruct the entire light-sensitive layer."

[newfie11]

1. WOW!!! Nt

[MADem]

2. I agree--this is a huge WOW. Imagine the possibilities!!!!!!! nt