Blind mice see again

Bacterial gene restores sight in experiments

Researchers have restored sight to blind laboratory mice by using gene therapy. The new treatment, published online June 24 in Science, may one day allow some people with retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable genetic eye disease, to read, drive and navigate a room.

SEE HOW THEY SEE In an experiment that restored sight to blind mice, cone cells in the mice’s eyes glow green with a fluorescent tag that shows a therapeutic gene hit its target.