1 . Researchers reported a blind man who had received a gene of a light-sensing protein can now see and touch objects with the help of special goggles(护目镜).
His vision gains are modest—he cannot see colors or distinguish faces or letters. But if the treatment helps other study participants, it may offer advantages over other vision technologies for severely blind people. For scientists, the result is a milestone: the first published report of using a relatively new technology called optogenetics(光遗传学) to treat a disease in people. “It’s not the kind of vision people dream of, but it’s a big step,” said Jean Bennett of the University of Pennsylvania.
Optogenetics uses light to control neurons. Scientists add the gene to a light-sensitive protein called opsin(视蛋白) from algae or bacteria and then shine light on the cell to cause the opsin to change shape, which switches the neuron’s activity on or off. Since it was developed nearly 20 years ago, optogenetics has mostly been used as a tool to treat animals, brain diseases. But researchers hope it can one day treat diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and blindness.
“The eye is the simplest place to start because it is small and easy to access,” said Botond Roska, a physician-scientist at the University of Base.
The patients in the study have lost the retinal photoreceptor cells(视网膜感光细胞) that use human opsins to turn light into electrical signals relayed to the brain. But their eyes still have the cells that route these signals to the brain via the optic nerve. That means the patients could potentially gain vision by giving these cells a new kind of opsin.
1. What can we know about the result from paragraph 2?| A．It has shortcomings but is important. |
| B．It can be used to treat blind people now. |
| C．It is the conclusion of previous research. |
| D．It is a way to help people become modest. |
| A．New goggles. | B．Suitable opsin. |
| C．Natural proteins. | D．Retinal photoreceptor cells. |
| A．It can benefit both humans and animals. |
| B．Scientists have never focused on it before. |
| C．If has been used to treat animals’ blindness. |
| D．Patients should know something about it. |
| A．A Report on a New Protein |
| B．Ways to Help Patients Stay Healthy |
| C．Researchers Find Blindness Can Be Cured |
| D．A Treatment Helps Blind Men Regain Some Vision |
