09/04/2015

Macroscope Video: A Cure for the Colorblindness Blues

4:39 minutes

Have trouble perceiving red and green? Join the club. Colorblindness is the most common genetic disorder worldwide, but its severity can vary. For some, difficulty seeing red and green may be a minor annoyance (red-green colorblindness is by far the most common variety of colorblindness). For others, it can taint even seemingly ordinary experiences—enjoying a vivid sunset, for example, or picking out fresh produce. Colorblindness can even prevent some people from pursuing jobs where color vision is critical, like nursing and aviation. Beginning in 1999, visionary researchers Maureen and Jay Neitz of the University of Washington began researching and developing a colorblindness cure. Now, using a virus-based gene therapy and a group of highly trained monkeys, the Neitzes may have finally created a cure for the colorblindness blues.

 

Segment Guests

Luke Groskin

Luke Groskin is Science Friday’s video producer. He’s on a mission to make you love spiders and other odd creatures.

Meet the Producer

About Annie Minoff

Annie Minoff is a producer for The Journal from Gimlet Media and the Wall Street Journal, and a former co-host and producer of Undiscovered. She also plays the banjo.