Researchers are studying a remarkable freshwater snail that can regrow its eyes, hoping the discovery could one day help people with serious eye injuries.
The golden apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata), native to South America but now invasive worldwide, can fully regenerate its eyes – a complex feat previously undocumented in such detail. Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have found that the anatomy and genetics of these snails’ “camera-type” eyes closely resemble those of humans.
“Apple snails are an extraordinary organism,” said Alice Accorsi, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology and lead author of the new Nature Communications study. “They provide a unique opportunity to study regeneration of complex sensory organs. Before this, we were missing a system for studying full eye regeneration.”
The team has developed genome-editing tools for the snails, enabling them to probe the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the regrowth process. Their findings show that many of the same genes involved in human eye development are present in the snail – and that after regeneration, the new eye’s structure and gene expression are almost identical to the original.
The regeneration unfolds in stages:
- Day 1: The wound seals to prevent infection.
- Days 2–10: Unspecialized cells move in, multiply, and begin forming the lens, retina, and other structures.
- By Day 15: The eye is fully rebuilt, including the optic nerve, though it continues to mature for weeks.
Accorsi believes the traits that make golden apple snails invasive – resilience, rapid reproduction, and ease of breeding – also make them ideal lab subjects. She is the first researcher to use this species for eye regeneration studies, noting that other snails are harder to breed and often undergo metamorphosis, which complicates experiments.
The next step is to determine whether the regenerated eyes can actually see, and to identify key genes controlling the process. Using CRISPR-Cas9, the team can selectively disable genes to understand their role.
“If we find a set of genes important for eye regeneration, and they exist in vertebrates, we could theoretically activate them in humans,” said Accorsi.
Such a breakthrough could pave the way for restoring sight to millions affected by injury or disease.
source Independent
