Gut Feeling
Twin study investigates how gut organisms influence the immune system
A partnership between Fight for Sight and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists hopes to shed new light on the link between the gut microbiome and AMD. Their method is simple – study twins. Stool samples from twin siblings are undergoing advanced genetic analysis to identify the microorganisms more common in healthy individuals versus those with AMD, while OCT scans look for macular changes. Zakariya Jarrar from King’s College in London, UK, was awarded the Fight for Sight John Lee Primer Fellowship to lead the research. “Studying twins is helpful in understanding what genetic and environmental components contribute to age-related macular degeneration,” said Jarrar (1). “This is because twins share their genes and therefore the influence of the environment can be explored, particularly when one twin develops the disease and the other does not.”
- Fight for Sight (2020). Available at: bit.ly/3eKJDT1.
I’ve always loved telling stories. So much so, I decided to make a job of it. I finished a Masters in Magazine Journalism and spent three years working as a creative copywriter before itchy feet sent me (back)packing. It took seven months and 13 countries, but I’m now happily settled on The Ophthalmologist, where I’m busy getting stuck into all things eyeballs.