Glaucoma Caused by Genetic Teamwork

Researchers have found that glaucoma seems to be caused by two, or more, mutated genes working together. There has been a long suspected link between glaucoma and gene WDR36. Work at the Department of Medical Genetics at the University of Alberta suggests that there must be several different genes that need to change in order for WDR36 to cause the disease. WDR36 plays a role in ribosome RNA creation normally. Glaucoma happens when WDR36 isn’t producing ribosomes properly. Researchers hope that by further understanding genetic causes of glaucoma, they might be able to prevent it.