Ma et al. (2014) looked at cone cell viability and whether TH signaling affects retinal degeneration mouse models. TH signaling has been shown to be important for cone visual pigment expression and pattern formation while an overabundance of TH signaling causes cone degeneration (Ng et al., 2010). In contrast, Ma’s study discovered when TH signaling was suppressed in rodent cone-rod dystrophy models, preservation of cones was found, a novel approach to macular degeneration therapy (Ma et al., 2014). The gene discussed is TH; the disease is Cone rod dystrophy.