Treating Blindness With Light (and Gene Therapy) | SciShow News

The video discusses a groundbreaking study where a 58-year-old participant regained partial sight using gene therapy and optogenetics. The study, published in Nature Medicine, involved injecting a viral vector carrying the opsin gene into the participant's eye, making retinal cells light-sensitive. The patient learned to use special goggles to interpret visual information, eventually recognizing objects. The video also covers a separate study in Nature Geoscience, revealing high mercury levels in Greenland's meltwater, potentially impacting health and economy due to its toxicity.

What was the primary goal of the gene therapy and optogenetics study?

• To cure retinitis pigmentosa completely

• To provide a rudimentary form of sight

• To enable patients to see in color

• To fully restore vision in all patients

What role did the special goggles play in the study?

• They were used to measure the patient's vision

• They were a placebo to test psychological effects

• They translated light into a form the modified cells could use

• They enhanced color perception

What was a significant outcome after the participant's training with the goggles?

• The participant experienced no change

• The participant's vision was fully restored

• The participant could identify objects and shapes

• The participant could see in full color

What is a current limitation of the optogenetics treatment?

• It is only effective in early-stage blindness

• It causes significant side effects

• It fully restores vision but only temporarily

• It is low-resolution and only partially restores vision

What surprising discovery was made about the Greenland ice sheet?

• It is melting slower than expected

• It has unexpectedly high levels of mercury

• It has low levels of mercury

• It contains no mercury

What are the potential sources of mercury in the Greenland ice sheet?

• Ocean currents

• Atmospheric deposition

• Bedrock erosion or geothermal activity

• Industrial pollution

Why is the high mercury level in Greenland's meltwater concerning?

• It is beneficial for the local wildlife

• It poses no threat to the ecosystem

• It could lead to increased fish populations

• It could have health and economic impacts