Iranians discover blindness gene

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

For the first time in the world, Iranian scientists have succeeded in discovering the gene responsible for a common type of blindness, prevalent in North Eastern parts of the country.


Latest figures have revealed that one in every family living in Esfarayen, in North Khorasan province, are blind, indicating that the blindness gene runs in these families. Scientists and officials had long considered climate and environmental factors as the main cause contributing to the condition.

According to Normohammad Ghiasvand, a genetic professor in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, the high prevalence of a certain gene accounts for the considerably high number of blind people in this area.
Iranians discover blindness gene

“Physicians can simply detect the presence of the gene in blood samples and even in the amniotic fluid sample of the unborn. The test is accurate and inexpensive,” Ghiasvand told IRIB News Agency.

He went on to say that the genetic examination of the parents can prevent the birth of blind children.

Children born with such a disease are believed to be healthy at the time of birth. Their cornea, however, darkens gradually and the child would not be able to detect light, even sun rays, in the first days of his/her life.

The autosomal recessive disease is characterized by optic nerve atrophy and retinal detachment caused by tears in the inner nervous tunic of the eye
PressTV - Iranians discover blindness gene

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

Once again a persian makes wonders.

anyway I want our scientists to come back home in the future. why should our brains work for nasa and other places???

 

[lem34]

Congrats to our Iranians brothers

 

[Skull and Bones]

Congrats

Wish Iran more scientific advancement in coming years.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

Congrats

Wish Iran more scientific advancement in coming years.

thanks, perhaps Iran india will also cooperate in the future.

 

[Skull and Bones]

thanks, perhaps Iran india will also cooperate in the future.

Yes, maybe collaborating with Indian universities can be something to start with. And healthcare and drugs manufacturing industry in India is very advanced, so there'a another scope for future collaboration.

 

[somebozo]

Not really the first time.

Web address:
New gene discovery could help to prevent blindness
New Gene Discovery Could Help to Prevent Blindness

ScienceDaily (Feb. 11, 2010) — Scientists have uncovered a new gene that could help save the sight of patients with a type of inherited blindness.

The international research team led by the University of Leeds found that the TSPAN12 gene is faulty in patients with a disease known as FEVR (Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy), which affects the development of the eye.

While many FEVR patients are registered blind or visually impaired, members of the same family may carry the faulty gene without showing any symptoms. It is hoped that by screening these family members for TSPAN12 mutations, doctors may be able to catch FEVR early on and treat patients before they start to lose their sight. It will also broaden their understanding of other more common blinding disorders.

Dr Carmel Toomes, of the Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine who led the research, said: "This discovery will have an immediate impact on the treatment and counselling of some FEVR patients by allowing us to identify family members who carry the mutated gene before any retinal damage has occurred. This decreases their chances of going blind because if a patient is diagnosed early enough their sight can often be saved by surgical intervention."

TSPAN12 is thought to cause FEVR by disrupting the cell signals required for the normal development of blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye.

This study, which was funded by The Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust, looked at 70 FEVR patients who had tested negative for the three genes already known to cause the disease. Mutations in the TSPAN12 gene, which is located on chromosome 7, were found in 10% of these patients.

As well as being an important piece in the FEVR puzzle, this latest discovery will help scientists to understand other blinding disorders including age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy -- two of the leading causes of blindness in the developed world.

"Our research highlights how studying rare inherited disorders such as FEVR can help us identify the genes and pathways involved in the basic cellular processes underlying more common diseases," Dr Toomes added.

"We hope that by learning more about blood vessel formation in FEVR we will gain clues that may lead to new treatments for these conditions."

The research will be published in the American Journal of Human Genetics on 12th February.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Leeds, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Carmel Toomes et al. Mutations in TSPAN12 cause autosomal dominant familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). American Journal of Human Genetics, February 12, 2010
Need to cite this story in your essay, paper, or report? Use one of the following formats:
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University of Leeds (2010, February 11). New gene discovery could help to prevent blindness. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com* /releases/2010/02/100211121802.htm
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

there so much nano achievments being made by Iran.
in another forum I made Iran nano news.

maybe I will make one here.
also
sombozo, read the article first.

Iran has actually find the gene responsible for some common form of blindness.

the thing you post is different.

 

[somebozo]

there so much nano achievments being made by Iran.
in another forum I made Iran nano news.

maybe I will make one here.

We are discussing about genes, where did nano come into this thread?

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

We are discussing about genes, where did nano come into this thread?

I am talking about Iran scientific achievement, you don't like it?

go to another thread.
no one send you an invitation to come here.

 

[Mosamania]

I am talking about Iran scientific achievement, you don't like it?

go to another thread.
no one send you an invitation to come here.

Then make a private thread. Does this forum support private threads??

 

[Archdemon]

And this is sensational how?

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

Then make a private thread. Does this forum support private threads??

I made this thread, and will post anything about Iranian science I want.

as I said if you don't like it dont come here.

 

[Mosamania]

I made this thread, and will post anything about Iranian science I want.

as I said if you don't like it dont come here.

Okay post whatever you want I was just making a suggestion because some forums support private threads that are only accessed by few members on the invite of the OP that is all.

 

[PERSIAN GOD KING]

Okay post whatever you want I was just making a suggestion because some forums support private threads that are only accessed by few members on the invite of the OP that is all.

I said I will make a thread later for Iran science.