A 29-year-old man with an inherited form of blindness has become the first in the world to receive groundbreaking gene therapy CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Thousands of people born with a faulty gene which makes them go blind have been offered new hope after a British man underwent the world’s first operation to deliver new DNA to his eyes and restore his sight.
Around 15,000 people in Britain suffer from x-linked retinitis pigmentosa, a deteriorating condition which brings a slow and irreversible loss of vision, and which is the leading cause of blindness in young people.
Loss of sight occurs because a gene responsible for maintaining the light sensitive cells at the back of the eye is missing half of its DNA code.
But scientists can now replace the code using a groundbreaking technique which reprogrammed the gene in the lab, then delivers the healthy DNA into the eye, via a harmless virus
The man will have to wait a few years to see if the virus has stopped the retina from degenerating. So, I believe, and I may be wrong, but I wonder if this is for those with sight still? Please let me know your opinions?
“The genetic code for all life on Earth is made up of four letters – G, T, A and C. In retinitis pigmentosa, however, half of the RPGR gene comprises only two letters – A and G.
Wouldn’t it be a breakthrough if we could make the missing letters? I guess this is what they are doing? All medical jargon is so difficult to understand I wish it was written in a more basic language one where one doesn’t need a medical degree to unravel the lingo!
It does seem like great news for us though. I pray for this day.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/03/20/blind-british-man-worlds-first-operation-deliver-modified-dna/
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