Uncovering the Link Between Gene Expression and Visual Impairments
Researchers at Harvard have created a comprehensive "cell atlas" of the human eye, identifying nearly 160 unique cell types and the genes expressed by each cell type. This groundbreaking atlas could revolutionize treatments for blinding diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration by enabling highly targeted gene therapies. The study also offers insights into the evolution of human vision. The researchers analyzed 151,000 single cells across different eye structures, mapping the expression of over 180 genes associated with glaucoma. The atlas provides a blueprint for understanding which cell types express disease-associated genes and where they are expressed, informing both therapies for blindness and our understanding of vision's evolution.