Genetic deafness mutation may help audiologists develop future treatments
Monday 24th January 2011
Doctors in audiology jobs may have moved a step closer to being able to better treat progressive hearing loss and deafness, following a breakthrough discovery.
The mutation of a gene known as miR-96 prevents the development of sensory hair cells, which could affect other important developments crucial to hearing in humans, according to researchers at the University of Sheffield.
An experiment with mice, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, revealed that the execution of a "precise genetic program" to regulate the development of cells key to hearing must have started before the 12th day of life, when these mice begin to hear.
A mutation of miR-96 prevents the normal regulation of hair cell development, researchers found.
They also discovered that this mutation may not only affect the development of the cell hair bundle, but also the structures responsible for transferring electrical information to sensory nerves.
Commenting on the findings, lead research Dr Walter Marcotti said: "Very little is currently known regarding the genetic basis of progressive hearing loss.
"Our research has provided new and exciting results that further our understanding of auditory development as well as possible molecular targets for the development of future therapies."
Written by Angela Newbury
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