In: Biology
Doctors may be able to inject a functioning copy of the gene mutated in Sam's DNA in the cells of his eyes. If the procedure were successful, would you expect Sam to regain his vision? Why or why not?
To capture the high sensitivity of natural vision, doctors may be able to inject a functioning copy of the gene mutated in Sam's DNA in the cells of his eyes , if the procedure were successful it will be expected Sam to regain his vision as it turned to the light receptors opsins of photoreceptor cells. Using an AAV that naturally infect ganglion cells, if doctors successfully delivered the gene for a retinal opsin into the genome of the ganglion cells .
The surface of a photoreceptor is decorated with opsins - rhodopsin in rods and red, green and blue opsins in cones that are embedded in a complicated molecular machine. A molecular relay G-protein coupled receptor signalling cascade amplifies the signal so effectively that we are able to detect single photons of light. An enzyme system recharges the opsin once it has detected the photons and becomes bleached. Feedback regulation adapts the system to very different background brightness. And a specialized ion channel generates a potent voltage signal.