— Archaeologists find new evidence of animals being introduced to prehistoric Caribbean — An archaeological research team from North Carolina State University, the University of Washington and University of Florida has found one of the most diverse collections of prehistoric…
— Microscopic worms could hold the key to living life on Mars — The astrophysicist Stephen Hawking believes that if humanity is to survive we will have up sticks and colonise space. But is the human body up to the challenge?…
— Chemical warfare of stealthy silverfish — A co-evolutionary arms race exists between social insects and their parasites. Army ants (Leptogenys distinguenda) share their nests with several parasites such as beetles, snails and…
— Stinky frogs are a treasure trove of antibiotic substances — Some of the nastiest smelling creatures on Earth have skin that produces the greatest known variety of anti-bacterial substances that hold promise for becoming new weapons in the battle…
— Genetic code of first arachnid cracked — An international team of scientists - including Ghent VIB scientists - has succeeded in deciphering the genome of the spider mite. This is also the first known genome of an arachnid.…
— How bats 'hear' objects in their path — By placing real and virtual objects in the flight paths of bats, scientists at the Universities of Bristol and Munich have shed new light on how echolocation works. Their research is…
— Counting cats: The endangered snow leopards of the Himalayas — The elusive snow leopard (Panthera uncia) lives high in the mountains across Central Asia. Despite potentially living across 12 countries the actual numbers of this beautiful large…
— Surprise role of nuclear structure protein in development — Scientists have long held theories about the importance of proteins called B-type lamins in the process of embryonic stem cells replicating and differentiating into different varieties…
— Pregnancy is a drag for bottlenose dolphins — Lumbering around during the final weeks before delivery is tough for any pregnant mum. Most females adjust their movements to compensate for the extreme physical changes that accompany…
Researchers cure colour blindness in squirrel monkeys
Researchers used gene therapy to cure two squirrel monkeys of colour blindness - the most common genetic disorder in people. The work, in this week's Nature, demonstrates the potential for gene therapy to cure adult vision disorders involving cone cells - the most important cells for vision in people.
Adding new sensory information, such as visual receptors sensitive to different wavelengths of light, to the brain would only be possible in the early years of life, when the brain is at its most plastic. The scientists now show that, in the case of distinguishing colours, this may not be true.
The team tested male squirrel monkeys that are known to be red-green colour blind. Using a variety of biophysical and behavioural tests they showed that by introducing genes for photopigments present in some female monkeys, although never in males, into photoreceptor cells in their retina, male monkeys can be given the ability to distinguish between red and green colours, which they previously could not.
By showing that it is possible to add sensory abilities to primates, the finding indicates that the brain may be able to re-wire itself with completely new information, even when the assumed critical period for brain plasticity and development is over. Although it may be some distance off, this could lead to opportunities for adding or restoring functions to the eye.
The finding is likely to intrigue millions of people around the world who are colour blind, including about 3.5 million people in the United States, more than 13 million in India and more than 16 million in China. The problem mostly affects men.
Or subscribe for our Newsletter, a free e-mail publication. It is published practically every day.
On the origin of subspecies
Biologists find gene network that gave rise to first tooth
Single gene lets bacteria jump from host to host
Palaeontologist reflects on Darwinian connections