Algae May Help Reverse Blindness 47
Anonymous coward writes ""Could a protein from algae help reverse blindness? Blind mice were able to respond to light after researchers inserted a green algae protein into retinal nerve cell membranes that normally aren't sensitive to light, according to a U.S. study," as reported by Forbes. There are more details at the Neurodudes blog, which includes a description of the novel method, which can convert any cell - nerve, muscle, etc. - into a light-sensing cell."
Screw blindness (Score:4, Funny)
Well (Score:2)
this [slashdot.org]
with
this [slashdot.org]
and if everything goes right, maybe we'll at least be moving in that direction?
Re:Screw blindness (Score:2)
I also recommend adding dry macaroni tubes and glitter for a nose and happy smile!
Re:Screw blindness (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Screw blindness (Score:2)
Re:Screw blindness (Score:1)
This is a little offtopic.. but anyways
Having eyes on the back of the head would have been a very simple way of saving you life.. if you were living the forest i.e.
For most of the cattle/deer etc, it doesnt really matter since they have around 270 degree vision due to bulging and diametric eyes (along with the fact that they graze in groups).
But for many of the other creatures, for ex primates/birds etc, their eyes dont have the w
Because WE'RE the predators. (Score:1)
Why? Why is obvious: it's unnecessary. Humans and other primates have binocular vision, probably originally to help in brachiation, moving from tree limb to tree limb. No big cats up there jumping on our backs, so unnecessary to have eyes in the back of our heads. Then when we came down from the trees, we lived mostly in open savannha. Le
Implants (Score:3, Interesting)
Ah, the choice...
Re:Implants (Score:2)
Re:Implants (Score:1)
You're right, of course.
Bring on the camera; zoom lens for me, please, and an external video input too!
Re:Implants (Score:1, Offtopic)
You know that it will have to have DRM built into it, otherwise there is a risk you could remember movies in hi-rez and the entire structure of the entertainment industry would collapase and it would all be your fault.
Re:Implants (Score:3, Informative)
I saw a TV program about these implants some time ago. For that particular patent, vision was in a 16x16 matrix (IIRC), black/white only, and not all the pixels worked.
The effective vision obtained from that wasn't much. Got the ability to notice sources of light, and when standing on the street the ability to determine whether there's a building in front. On the show the patient commented she hoped to be able to see her husband's outline and was disappointed she didn
Re:Implants (Score:2)
Still, if you look at this from a futurist's point of view, once these implants will work, what stops them from making consumer ones that do any number of useful or frivolous things? Talk about true 3-D... (cue adult industry comment).
Further research (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Further research (Score:2)
Re:Further research (Score:2)
Re:Further research (Score:2)
Green Patches (Score:2)
Re:As one of the first discoverers of algae.... (Score:1)
Link (Score:5, Informative)
What about interpretation? (Score:3)
Reguardless, this could provide a number of interesting research opportunities to further our knowledge of the brain as well as visual systems.
Re:What about interpretation? (Score:3, Interesting)
Transdermal image recognition (Score:2)
If the "paranormal" reports of people who are able to "read" by sweeping their fingers and/or feet over text are credible, perhaps these kinds of photosensitive cells are the mechanism? It would not constitute "vision" per se, but perhaps the brai
Palmreading (Score:2)
The general "scientific" explanation used is that the people are sensing the slight difference in heat between the black lett
Re:What about interpretation? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What about interpretation? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
what this does for styles (Score:2)
Yeah, but what about people who want these cells on their hands, arms, legs...
Gonna cause whole different attitudes about clothing. Maybe the only relevant story isn't Green Patches. Maybe we should be looking at The Puppet Masters [scifi.com]
*snert*
-Rustin
Re:Awareness (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Awareness (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
It's a good day to be blind. (Score:1)
We want visors (Score:2)
Ugly vision (Score:2, Funny)
Hind-sight could become a type of vision best avoided.
Re:Ugly vision (Score:1)
While Re/enabling visible light sensitivity to a deffective retina do bring hopes of some possible blindness cures, this will have no effect on other eye deffects/illnesses of the opti
Can I do it till I need algae? (Score:1, Flamebait)
Re:Can I do it till I need algae? (Score:2)
Sweet (Score:1)
In contrast to recent blindness-causing fungus (Score:1)
Organic Visor? (Score:2)
Reverse Blindness? (Score:2)