Emerging Technique Gives Snapshot of an Individual Eye Cell’s Health

Newswise — Denver, Colo. – Researchers are studying ways to get a snapshot of all the genetic material that a single retina cell uses to make proteins, revealing the health of that eye cell. The research is being presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) this week in Denver, Colo.

Using a mouse model, scientists looked at the rod cells in the retina, which function in low light. They used two different methods to evaluate the genetic material, one of which detected more genes in the cell but cost significantly higher.

Continued refinement of these techniques may result in a simple, cost-effective way for researchers to look at the health of individual eye cells in a person with retinal disease. Revealing how young cells are different from old cells or how healthy cells are different from diseased cells could provide the foundation for more effective eye treatments.

Abstract Title: Transcriptome profiling of single rod photoreceptors in the Rd1 mousePresentation Start/End Time: Thursday, May 7, 8:30 – 10:15am Location: Exhibit HallAbstract Number: 5499 - B0058

# # #

The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include nearly 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders.

All abstracts accepted for presentation at the ARVO Annual Meeting represent previously unpublished data and conclusions. This research may be proprietary or may have been submitted for journal publication. Embargo policy: Journalists must seek approval from the presenter(s) before reporting data from paper or poster presentations. Press releases or stories on information presented at the ARVO Annual Meeting may not be released or published until the conclusion of the presentation.