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Scientists Cure Red-Green Color Blindness in Monkeys

Adult brain can re-wire to use new vision input: study

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 16, 2009 2:36 PM CDT

(Newser) – Scientists have cured red-green color blindness in monkeys, the Times of London reports. Researchers injected a virus containing L opsin, a gene that regulates the production of the red-sensitive light receptor—known as a “cone”—into the retina of red-green colorblind adult monkeys, according to a study published in Nature. Over a 24-week period, the light sensitivity of their new cones adjusted, and the monkeys could perform well on red-green color tests.

The red-green disorder is the most common type of color blindness in humans, and L opsin deficiency is usually the reason, which suggests that the therapy used in the study could be successful in humans. Critically, the monkeys’ adult brains were able to rewire themselves to use the information from the new red cones—the researchers had expected that only young brains would be adaptable enough to respond to the treatment.

Squirrel monkeys play with dreidels, four sided spinning tops traditionally used by Jewish children during the holiday of Hanukkah, in Kfar Daniel, Israel, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.
Squirrel monkeys play with dreidels, four sided spinning tops traditionally used by Jewish children during the holiday of Hanukkah, in Kfar Daniel, Israel, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
A squirrel monkeys holds a dreidel, a four sided spinning top traditionally used by Jewish children during the holiday of Hanukkah, in Kfar Daniel, Israel, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.
A squirrel monkeys holds a dreidel, a four sided spinning top traditionally used by Jewish children during the holiday of Hanukkah, in Kfar Daniel, Israel, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
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Although colour blindness is only moderately life-altering, we have shown we can cure a cone disease. That is extremely encouraging for the development of therapies for human cone diseases that really are blinding.
- William Hauswirth, University of Florida

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 19 comments
Guest
Sep 21, 2009 5:32 AM CDT
Wow, you mean our brains, which evolved as ADAPTIVE MACHINES can really rewire themselves in response to new situations? Will wonders never cease... Sarcasm notwithstanding, kudos to the scientists who did this research.
Guest
Sep 20, 2009 10:37 PM CDT
what a gr8 thread , why cant the ones on politics roll li 'dat ?
Nwambe
Sep 17, 2009 7:31 AM CDT
I always wanted to apply to be a police officer, but I couldn't because I failed the Ishihara dot test (tests for colourblindness). For those who think it's trivial and a waste of research grant... I hope I don't have to give you a speeding ticket any time soon :P

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