Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 2, 2025
07:04
Electroporation-Based Genetic Modification of Primary Human Pigment Epithelial Cells Using the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System
Published on: February 4, 2021
2.1K
Poor eyesight reveals a new vision gene
Tathagata Biswas1, Jaya Krishnan1, Nicolas Rohner1,2
1Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, United States.
Elife
|August 5, 2022
Summary
Researchers identified a key gene impacting eyesight by comparing mammal genomes. This discovery sheds light on the genetic basis of vision evolution and impairment.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Mammalian vision exhibits diverse evolutionary trajectories, with some lineages adapting to low-light environments or losing visual acuity.
- Understanding the genetic underpinnings of these adaptations is crucial for comprehending visual system evolution.
Discussion:
- Comparative genomic analysis reveals specific genetic changes associated with the evolution of poor vision in mammals.
- Identification of a candidate gene significantly altered in species with reduced visual capabilities.
Key Insights:
- A specific gene has been pinpointed as a critical factor in the development and function of mammalian eyesight.
- This finding provides a molecular basis for understanding variations in visual acuity across mammalian species.
Outlook:
- Further research can explore the precise function of this gene in visual pathway development and maintenance.
- Investigating this gene may offer insights into inherited retinal diseases and potential therapeutic targets.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways
6.4K
At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...
6.4K
01:11Genetic Lingo
104.2K
Overview
104.2K
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
4.2K
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
4.2K
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
711
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
711
01:33Pleiotropy
40.9K
Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
40.9K
01:16Focusing of Light in the Eye
3.2K
Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
3.2K