Scientists at the University of Toronto found that human retinal stem cells regenerated when they were transplanted into the eyes of mice and chicks.

The retina sits at the back of the eye and is where light rays are turned into images.

It acts like the film in a camera to capture images, transform them into electrical signals, and send these signals to the brain.

Ms Coles said: "The eye itself is telling the stem cells what to do, so when we go to a disease model, it is important to know what those signals from the eye are so we can inhibit them or protect the cells."

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