Scientists cure colour blind monkeys

New hope for human vision disorders as scientists cure colour blind monkeys using gene therapy

Scientists from the University of Washington have cured colour blind male squirrel monkeys using gene therapy. The monkeys who could only detect blue and yellow light now have full colour vision. Although the technique may be too risky for colourblindness, the researchers are considering its use in other more debilitating human vision disorders.

A harmless cold like virus carrying a human version of the missing gene was injected into the monkey's retinas. After 20 weeks the adult monkeys had complete colour vision.

Researchers had previously thought that adult brains would be too fixed to be manipulated. The research demonstrates that there is more flexibility in the human brain and vision cells which offers new hope to adults with visual disorders.

Professor Jay Neitz of the University of Washington Seattle said “This provides a positive outlook for the potential of gene therapy to cure adult vision disorders”.