They claim to have found the 'holy grail' of the hearing loss field.
, the researchers coaxed the hair cells to regrow in mice by reprogramming genetic pathways in the inner ear.
Unlike certain species of fish, birds, or reptiles, humans do not have the ability to regenerate hair cells, which are like biological microphones responsible for passing sound signals from the inner ear to the brain., also on mice, Chen's team was able to make other types of cells divide and develop the characteristics of hair cells.
"Think about a brake when driving a car," Chen explained in the statement. "If the brake is always engaged, you can’t drive. We found an siRNA that could remove the brake in this genetic pathway."
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