New research identifies how blind cavefish lose their eyes

(University of Maryland) Blind cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) lose critical eye tissues within a few days after their eyes begin to develop. According to a new study, this loss of eye tissues happens through epigenetic silencing of eye-related genes. The researchers identified roles for more than two dozen genes that are shared by humans--most of which have been implicated in various human eye disorders.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news