Similarly, analyzing the expression of AMD- and DR-associated risk genes in both species revealed that the majority of risk genes, were similarly expressed in both species, among them APOE and TGFBR1, which are established risk genes for AMD, as well as PLXDC2 and ARHGAP22 representing risk genes for DR (39). This evidence concerns the gene PLXDC2 and age-related macular degeneration.