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Gene therapy trials on monkeys’ eyes could help cure color blindness

41 points by eaguyhn 8y ago

astazangasta 8y ago
To me "genetically modified" means germline alterations present in the whole organism. Here I'd suggest "somatically modified", denoting only changes in some somatic cells.
- trashE 8y ago
  Eh you're being too technical which would only serve to confuse the masses. Why not 'gametically' or 'zygotically' modified as per your lingo? Is delivery of mRNA to cells not genetic modification as well, I believe so
ZDurmPhoto 8y ago
I have the standard red/brown color blindness. I have brown eyes and can see well in strong sunlight without squinting. I can navigate unfamiliar landscapes in pure starlight. If I have to give up these traits for better color vision - no thanks. I'm uncertain there is a correlation, but I wouldn't be surprised.
- stoobs 8y ago
  Yup, same here. Apparently I'm a moderate deutan according to one of the online tests, but the only time I have any trouble with anything is with the colour blindness tests, in real life, never - completely fine with electrical wiring, photographic re-touching, display reading etc etc. I've never mixed odd socks, worn the wrong colour by mistake or anything else apparently colour-blind people have trouble with. Quite happy to keep better night vision and ability to wander around in bright sunshine without squinting vs a completely non-impacting deficiency. :)
  - xxs 8y ago
    You have not played enough games then...
emayljames 8y ago
What could be really exciting, is that we could develop a way to see other colors. Butterflies see many more colors than Humans and there are rare cases of humans with an extra cone receptor.
- VBprogrammer 8y ago
  That might be really fun for you but for me I'd really be much more excited about being able to see colours well enough to achieve my life long aim of being a pilot. As well as avoiding 1000 tiny annoyances that come with not being colour normalative. Maybe I'm just being sensitive but it's almost like someone was discussing a way to regrow a missing limb and you've come along to tell us you've always fancied a third hand.
  - tjpnz 8y ago
    >That might be really fun for you but for me I'd really be much more excited about being able to see colours well enough to achieve my life long aim of being a pilot. Are you sure that colour blindness would still present an issue? I've heard that in recent years the requirements had been relaxed around this.
    - VBprogrammer 8y ago
      I'm sure.
  - dalbasal 8y ago
    In fairness, "always fancied a third hand" is a comment you'll find on prosthetic limb HN threads, including today. I don't think one negates the other.
  - antt 8y ago
    This makes about as much sense as complaining about cosmetic dentistry because you've lost a tooth.
- rincebrain 8y ago
  I didn't think we had any confirmed examples of human tetrachromats?

41 points by eaguyhn 8y ago

To me "genetically modified" means germline alterations present in the whole organism. Here I'd suggest "somatically modified", denoting only changes in some somatic cells.

trashE 8y ago
Eh you're being too technical which would only serve to confuse the masses. Why not 'gametically' or 'zygotically' modified as per your lingo? Is delivery of mRNA to cells not genetic modification as well, I believe so

ZDurmPhoto 8y ago

I have the standard red/brown color blindness. I have brown eyes and can see well in strong sunlight without squinting. I can navigate unfamiliar landscapes in pure starlight. If I have to give up these traits for better color vision - no thanks. I'm uncertain there is a correlation, but I wouldn't be surprised.

stoobs 8y ago
Yup, same here. Apparently I'm a moderate deutan according to one of the online tests, but the only time I have any trouble with anything is with the colour blindness tests, in real life, never - completely fine with electrical wiring, photographic re-touching, display reading etc etc. I've never mixed odd socks, worn the wrong colour by mistake or anything else apparently colour-blind people have trouble with. Quite happy to keep better night vision and ability to wander around in bright sunshine without squinting vs a completely non-impacting deficiency. :)
- xxs 8y ago
  You have not played enough games then...

emayljames 8y ago

What could be really exciting, is that we could develop a way to see other colors. Butterflies see many more colors than Humans and there are rare cases of humans with an extra cone receptor.

VBprogrammer 8y ago
That might be really fun for you but for me I'd really be much more excited about being able to see colours well enough to achieve my life long aim of being a pilot. As well as avoiding 1000 tiny annoyances that come with not being colour normalative. Maybe I'm just being sensitive but it's almost like someone was discussing a way to regrow a missing limb and you've come along to tell us you've always fancied a third hand.
- tjpnz 8y ago
  >That might be really fun for you but for me I'd really be much more excited about being able to see colours well enough to achieve my life long aim of being a pilot. Are you sure that colour blindness would still present an issue? I've heard that in recent years the requirements had been relaxed around this.
  - VBprogrammer 8y ago
    I'm sure.
- dalbasal 8y ago
  In fairness, "always fancied a third hand" is a comment you'll find on prosthetic limb HN threads, including today. I don't think one negates the other.
- antt 8y ago
  This makes about as much sense as complaining about cosmetic dentistry because you've lost a tooth.
rincebrain 8y ago
I didn't think we had any confirmed examples of human tetrachromats?