Retinal degeneration is dramatically increased in rds+/− and rds−/− mice which carry the rhodopsin over-expressing transgene: observe reduction from 8–9 rows of ONL nuclei in rds+/− animals to 5–6 rows of nuclei in Bouse/rds+/− (Fig. 2A), and from 6–7 rows of nuclei in rds−/− to 1 row of nuclei in Bouse/rds−/− (Fig. 2B). This evidence concerns the gene RHO and retinal degeneration.