Chinese scientists use CRISPR gene editing technology to restore vision in mice.

CTOnews.com, March 18 (Xinhua)-- researchers at Wuhan University of Science and Technology used a highly common form of CRISPR gene editing to restore vision in mice with retinitis pigmentosa (retinitis pigmentosa,RP).

CTOnews.com lesson: retinitis pigmentosa (retinitis pigmentosa,RP), newly known as hereditary retinal dystrophy (inherited retinal dystrophy,IRD), is an inherited eye disease that can eventually cause blindness.

Symptoms include night blindness and peripheral visual field defects, which worsen gradually and may gradually lead to tunnel vision (narrow vision). Complete blindness is not common. RP usually occurs in childhood and worsens gradually with time.

The study, to be published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on March 17, uses a new, highly common form of CRISPR-based genome editing that has the potential to correct multiple disease-causing gene mutations.

Professor Kai Yao, who led the study, said: "this experiment fully demonstrates that genome editing tools already have the ability to edit the genomes of neuroretinal cells, especially for unhealthy or dying photoreceptors, providing more convincing evidence for potential applications for follow-up treatments for diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa."