RetGen

The discovery of the gene came about through the team's efforts to map the genes of 612 families affected by ARM and an additional 323 individuals without a history of macular degeneration. Pooling data from a number of gene mapping studies, researchers were able to identify multiple locations on the chromosomes where there are common gene variants among people with ARM. Specifically, researchers found that a region on one of these chromosomes, chromosome 10, was the one most likely to contain a major gene that influences the risk of ARM. Further analysis of chromosome 10 found that a variation in PLEKHA1 to be strongly associated with a person's risk of developing ARM.
'Gene's discovery could help prevent a leading cause of blindness in the elderly', University of Pittsburgh press release at EurekAlert, 21 August 2005.