A new study from Northwestern has identified a gene that plays a large role in maintaining the clarify of the cornea in both humans and mice. This gene could possibly be used as gene therapy to treat eye diseases that can cause blindness. Corneas need to be transparent for vision so we have evolved to have corneas without blood vessels forming. The researchers believe they have found the master gene, FoxC1, that prevents the formation of these blood vessels in the eye and maintains clarity. The gene could possibly be used in corneal transplants where the growth of new blood vessels on the new transplanted cornea can often be a problem.
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