Found a gene responsible for myopia
29 Sep 2010
During the studies conducted by British scientists, was found a gene responsible for myopia. Based on the data, the researchers plan in the course of the next ten years to develop special eye drops to help people with low vision, to get rid of glasses.
To find the gene responsible for myopia (myopia), the researchers compared the DNA of more than four thousand British twins. Twins often involved in such experiments, because they more easily analyze different effects of nature and lifestyle on the body. Then the results were confirmed by genetic research by participating in the experiment is thirteen thousand people including the British, Dutch and Australians.
Approximately 45% of Britons had a gene outcast RASGRF1. If his "failure" eyeball increased and people began to see distant objects blurred. Those who attended two of these gene were almost twice as likely to become short-sighted than those who have this gene is not detected at all.
Myopia affects at least one in three British and becomes more common as people spend more time indoors and in front of a computer monitor.
This disease usually begins to develop in childhood. Vision can deteriorate quickly, in severe cases it can lead to blindness. Currently there is no way to stop this process. These studies, conducted by an international team led by experts from King's College, and published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics, give hope to millions of people.
One of the study's authors, Dr. Piro Husy (Pirro Hysi) said: "We think that the gene, called RASGRF1, plays a key role in the development of the eye and the transmission of visual signals to the brain for processing. If the gene is damaged, eyeball may increase in consequence of that person sees deleted items are not clear. "
Dr. Chris Hammond (Chris Hammond) said: "Myopia, or nearsightedness, is the most common vision problems. People with a significant degree of nearsightedness have a high risk of vision loss. The retina can peel off the back of the eye like wallpaper from the wall. Although we know that environmental factors influence myopia, work in confined spaces, and lack of recreation, we still do not understand how people become short-sighted. We hope that understanding these mechanisms will help stop myopia in children. "
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