Cornea Gene Discovery Reveals Why Humans See Clearly

Science Daily published news that research by new Northwestern Medicine shows that the clear vision of cornea in humans and mice is due to a master regulatory gene, FoxC1. According to Tsutomu Kume, associate professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and researcher at Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, FoxC1 regulatory gene helps in clear vision by stopping the formation of blood vessels on eyes.  Kume and his team found out that mice that do not have this gene, do not have the capability to prevent the formation of blood vessels in eyes and thus light cannot pass through cornea.



Ordan Lehmann, MD, professor of ophthalmology and medical genetics, says “…his patients who have a single copy of this mutated FoxC1 gene – and who have congenital glaucoma – also have abnormal blood vessel growth in their eyes” (Science Daily). Congenital glaucoma is a “blinding eye disorder” which can be found in newborn children or at the age of three to four (“Congenital Glaucoma”).



Lehmann also added that large amount of FoxC1 is needed to keep the vision clear otherwise formation of blood vessels will eventually result in blindness.