If our hearing gets worse, the hair cells in our ears could be reprogrammed.
As we get older, our vision likewise deteriorates, since damaged cells do not regenerate (except in fish and amphibians). Which explains why work is underway to develop a biohybrid retina.
The London-based startup of a science team is going one step further, however, and aiming to replace dead photoreceptor cells altogether. Whether for detecting daylight or colour or helping with low light or peripheral vision.
The replacement cells are created in the lab from neutral stem cells. Removing or adding certain genes can improve new cells’ performance prior to transplantation into the eye.
Algae, meanwhile, have already proved vital in the fight against blindness.
