Fish have the
special ability to regenerate injuries to the retina at a cellular level. Scientists
from Heidelberg University’s Centre for Organismal Studies, or COS, have
discovered as to how the regeneration process starts by studying the Medaka
fish. There is one genetic factor that triggers two steps for this process to
occur. The two steps are cell division and differentiation of progenitors into
new and different cell types. Stem cells have been a huge topic as of late in
the medical world. Stem cells can be used to correct faults in the body.
However, we have not yet been able to actually figure out how to perfect this
system. One-day scientists hope that we will actually be able to use stem cells
to help repair various injuries. In a study, researchers looked into the retina
of fish and found that they can completely repair injuries to the retinal nerve
cells. There are special glia cells that act like stem cells. Both fish and
humans have these cells in their eyes. These cells are also called Muller
cells. Professor Wittbrodt of COS explored if these cells could be activated
and what would stimulate the regeneration process. A gene called Atoh7 is
responsible for cell differentiation and is triggered by a single genetic
factor. There are several steps that go into the regeneration process of a
fish’s eye. The glia cells first start to proliferate. “First the Müller cells
near the injury start to proliferate. The resultant neuronal clusters contain
the progenitor cells for the cell types of the retina. In the last step, these
progenitors differentiate and turn into the neuronal retinal cells to be
restored”. These cells supposedly show signs of being able to repair any
injuries. The Atoh7 gene is the big factor, which fulfills two functions and
triggers proliferation and differentiation into various retinal cell types.
Scientists hope that one day we will be able to decode this ability in humans.
Regeneration is a
very interesting and unique ability that various species possess. By studying
these species more and more I believe that one day we will be able to figure
out a way to possess this ability in humans. Being able to cure someone’s blindness
would be a miracle. Hopefully one day it will only take one simple surgery for
someone to repair their damaged retinal cells. I think more research and
funding should go into fully understanding the regeneration process.
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