Algal protein causes blind mice to react to light

Darkfrog submitted, created time 8 months 1 week (www.nature.com)

Blind mice have been made to react to light in the lab. Scientists have used a protein found in algae to make little systems that react to light. When properly attached, these proteins can switch neurons on and off almost like natural photoreceptors do. It's not too clear how well the mice can actually see, but they can now tell the difference between "lights on" and "lights off." The scientists suppose, too, that the mice can only see in black and white

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Gene Therapy Could Cure GSD-Ia

Sue Wu submitted, created time 9 months 3 weeks (www.dukemednews.org)

A gene therapy treatment that restores a missing liver enzyme in test animals could provide a cure for a rare metabolic disorder in humans, according to Duke University Medical Center researchers.

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