Scientists think they've overcome a major hurdle in reversing deafness
Discoveries such as this could be life changing for millions of people. We seem to be on the cusp of so many life changing discoveries in the medical fields.
Hearing loss due to aging, noise, and certain cancer therapy drugs and antibiotics has up until now been seen as irreversible when there is the death of such cells—which develop in the embryo and do not reproduce.
But scientists have discovered a single master gene, TBX2, that can change ear cells into either outer or inner sensory hair ones.
The outer hair cells expand and contract in response to the pressure of sound waves and amplify sound for the inner hair cells. The inner cells transmit those vibrations to the neurons to create the sounds we hear.
But scientists have discovered a single master gene, TBX2, that can change ear cells into either outer or inner sensory hair ones.
The outer hair cells expand and contract in response to the pressure of sound waves and amplify sound for the inner hair cells. The inner cells transmit those vibrations to the neurons to create the sounds we hear.
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