Nature 560, 484–488 (2018).

A population of cells known as Muller glia can be reprogrammed in mice to regenerate rod photoreceptors.

Muller glia are known to be a source of retinal stem cells that can replenish damaged retinal neurons in zebrafish, but in mammals, they do not divide or differentiate without serious injury and then only with limited capacity.

Bo Chen and his colleagues were able to transfer genes in vivo into these cells in mice. The cells were able to differentiate to generate rod photoreceptors and restore vision in a mouse model of congenital blindness.