---
title: "Research Highlight: Bringing Vision Research into Focus - LGC"
description: The quantitative nature of Stellaris RNA FISH makes it a valuable method for evaluating transcript levels in heterogeneous cell populations.
image: https://blog.biosearchtech.com/hubfs/images/blog/eye-anatomy.png
---
[](https://www.biosearchtech.com/)
[Blog](https://blog.biosearchtech.com) / Research Highlight: Bringing Vision Research into Focus
# Research Highlight: Bringing Vision Research into Focus
[RNA FISH](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/rna-fish) |
**Time to read:** 1 minute read
Originally published : Thu, May 21, 2015 @ 3:35 PM
###### *Updated : Tue, March 21, 2023 @ 3:37 PM*
Gene expression and molecular biology research in vision and ophthalmology presents unique challenges to researchers and clinicians due to the complexity of the eye. The eye consists of many structures containing specific cell populations, each exhibiting different expression profiles. Such an intricate organ requires a series of advanced methods in your molecular toolkit to unlock the mechanisms of degenerative eye disease.
### Diagram of a Human Eye
#### StellarisTM RNA FISH can shed light on the location and amount of RNA in retinal cells
A [recent publication from Sui Wang et al.](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2014.07.018) applied Stellaris RNA FISH (fluorescence *in situ* hybridization) probes to measure mRNA levels within individual cells of retinal explants containing heterogeneous cell populations1. Using multiple oligonucleotides targeting a single RNA, [Stellaris RNA FISH assays](https://www.biosearchtech.com/products/stellaris%C2%AE-rna-fish-probes) can quantify and localize RNA within tissue sections or cells while preserving morphology. Each fluorescently labeled probe collectively binds along the same target transcript to produce a punctate signal for an individual RNA molecule.
The authors sought to unravel the complex interactions required for the specification of different central nervous system cell types by examining whether the RORβ or Otx2 transcription factors were required for the activation of the *Blimp1* gene1. *Blimp1* is a transcription factor involved in determining the cell fate of rod versus bipolar cells in the retina. *RORβ* or *Otx2* were targeted and degraded via shRNA knockdown. The shRNAs were placed 3’ to the *EGFP* gene, and *Blimp1 *mRNA from EGFP positive cells were quantified.
Fewer retinal cells had a high number of *Blimp1* signals when *RORβ* expression was targeted. Likewise, compared with controls, significantly fewer retinal cells contained a high number of *Blimp1* signals when the *Otx2*-shRNA was introduced. The authors concluded that RORβ and Otx2 were positive regulators of *Blimp1* expression1. Because the levels of transcription factors can be important for developmental events, the quantitative nature of Stellaris RNA FISH makes it a valuable method for evaluating transcript levels in heterogeneous cell populations.
**References**
1. [A Gene Regulatory Network Controls the Binary Fate Decision of Rodand Bipolar Cells in the Vertebrate Retina](http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2014.07.018). Sui Wang, Cem Sengel, Mark M. Emerson, and Constance L. Cepko. *Developmental Cell. ***2014**. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.07.018
- [**](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus)
- [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus&title=Research%20Highlight:%20Bringing%20Vision%20Research%20into%20Focus)
- [** ](http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Research%20Highlight:%20Bringing%20Vision%20Research%20into%20Focus&url=https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus)
- [** ](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20post&body=Check%20out%20this%20post%20.)
#### Like what you see? Share with a friend or comment below.
[** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus)
[** ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus)
[** ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus&text=Research%20Highlight:%20Bringing%20Vision%20Research%20into%20Focus%20-%20LGC)
[** ](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20post&body=Check%20out%20this%20post%20.)
## Subscribe to our blog
## BiosearchTech Blog alerts
Don’t forget to subscribe to the latest scientific content curated * by* scientists * for *scientists. You’ll receive an email twice a month or less.
### Subscribe to our blog
### About LGC, Biosearch Technologies
LGC, Biosearch Technologies is the complete Genomics portfolio from LGC. Providing genomic analysis tools, instrumentation and services to the genomic scientific discovery sector worldwide, with focus on across ag bio, pharma and molecular diagnostics. Visit our home page to [view our products and services](http://www.biosearchtech.com).
### Posts by category
- [Agrigenomics (37)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/agrigenomics)
- [CPG (2)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/cpg)
- [Disease detection (14)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/disease-detection)
- [Enzymes (3)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/enzymes)
- [General science (90)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/general-science)
- [Genomics (48)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/genomics)
- [KASP (4)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/kasp)
- [Molecular diagnostics (53)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/molecular-diagnostics)
- [mRNA therapeutics (2)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/mrna-therapeutics)
- [New and Featured (2)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/new-and-featured)
- [Next generation sequencing (NGS) (16)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/next-generation-sequencing-ngs)
- [NGS-based genotyping (19)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/ngs-based-genotyping)
- [Nucleic acid extraction (11)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/nucleic-acid-extraction)
- [Nucleic acid therapeutics (15)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/nucleic-acid-therapeutics)
- [Oligo synthesis and modifications (41)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/oligo-synthesis-and-modifications)
- [oligos probes and primers (4)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/oligos-probes-and-primers)
- [PCR-based genotyping (21)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/pcr-based-genotyping)
- [qPCR (61)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/qpcr)
- [RNA FISH (22)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/rna-fish)
- [SARS-CoV-2 (28)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/sars-cov-2)
- [Targeted GBS (4)](https://blog.biosearchtech.com/topic/targeted-gbs)
### Posts by popularity
### Follow @BiosearchTech on Twitter
[Tweets by @BiosearchTech](https://twitter.com/BiosearchTech)
### Become a Fan on Facebook!
### Visit our website
[biosearchtech.com](https://www.biosearchtech.com/)
### Contact us
- [** Contact us ](https://www.biosearchtech.com/about-us/locations)
### Connect with us
- [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/LGCBiosearch)
- [** Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/LGCBiosearch)
- [** Youtube ](https://www.youtube.com/user/lgcgroupvideo)
- [** LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lgc-biosearch-technologies)
Copyright © 2023 LGC, Biosearch Technologies
### About Us
- [About LGC Biosearch Technologies](https://www.biosearchtech.com/about-us/inside-lgc-biosearch)
- [Careers](https://www.biosearchtech.com/our-company/careers)
- [Shop](https://www.biosearchtech.com/about-us/distributors)
### Stay in Touch
- [Contact us](https://www.biosearchtech.com/about-us/contact-us)
- [Join our mailing list](https://www.biosearchtech.com/)
-
- [** ](https://www.facebook.com/LGCBiosearch)
- [** ](https://www.youtube.com/user/lgcgroupvideo)
- [** ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lgc-biosearch-technologies)
Copyright © 2024 LGC Biosearch Technologies
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Sheila Semaan Clark",
"url" : "https://blog.biosearchtech.com/author/sheila-semaan-clark"
},
"dateModified" : "2024-02-09T05:25:45.041Z",
"datePublished" : "2015-05-28T21:14:49.000Z",
"headline" : "Research Highlight: Bringing Vision Research into Focus - LGC",
"image" : [ "https://blog.biosearchtech.com/hubfs/images/blog/eye-anatomy.png" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://blog.biosearchtech.com/research-highlight-bringing-vision-research-into-focus",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://blog.biosearchtech.com/hubfs/LGC_D&G_Logos_RGB_LGC_D&G_Primary.png"
},
"name" : "Biosearch Technologies"
}
}
```