More Success With Gene Therapy for Blindness

Reference: http://news.yahoo.com/more-success-gene-therapy-blindness-210208609.html;_ylt=AumuYx2QtrSDu4sOm15yqqyJhMgF;_ylu=X3oDMTQ2amVkOHVyBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YgQmlvdGVjU1NGBHBrZwM1NDYxNjk2NC1jMTE5LTNiOGQtYWEyNS1jYmIyYTBhOTk5ODUEcG9zAzUEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDY2E0MmVjYjAtNTJkOS0xMWUxLWJkZDQtN2Y0MGY0MjU0NGQx;_ylg=X3oDMTIyY2Uya25pBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANzY2llbmNlfGJpb3RlYwRwdANzZWN0aW9ucwR0ZXN0Aw--;_ylv=3

Summary: Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a rare inherited eye disease that causes a progressive loss of vision. In 2009, 12 people underwent an experimental treatment using gene therapy in one eye. Even more progress has been made; scientists have now reported that they have successfully treated the second eye of three patients. LCA is caused by a faulty gene that fails to produce an enzyme needed by the retina, the tissue in the back of the eye that converts light images into nerve signals that get sent to the brain. The lack of enzyme causes toxic byproducts to build up in the retinal cells, gradually killing them.

Critique: I think that LCA has a negative effect on people, but the gene treatment that scientists have found is very positive because it is going to help people who have LCA.

Impact: The impact that the scientists have the world is very positive because it is helping people keep their eye sight.