| The days are not faraway, if an Oregon team is to be | | | | They performed the gene therapy , on that unborn |
| believed, when a deaf can be seen listening to the | | | | mouse, using a harmless virus. The key genes,Atoh1, |
| chart busters and enjoying symphonies and he may | | | | related to hearing ability, were inserted into cells to |
| ,also, be seen dancing to many tunes. | | | | produce the cochlear hair cells . |
| Most probably, dancing to the tunes of a certain gene, | | | | The experts found the newly developed cells no less |
| which the scientists believe can bring back the lost | | | | useful than the natural cochlear hair cells . As the |
| hearing ability. | | | | hearing ability of the mouse was found pretty normal. |
| The scientists have shown success in reproducing | | | | However, this therapy, still not done on any human |
| cochlear hair cells. These cells are efficient converters | | | | being, is the first of its kind which may prove helpful to |
| of sound waves into electric signals. These signals | | | | reproduce or repair cochlear hair cells. |
| after reaching brain turn into things what we hear or | | | | Significantly, if this therapy comes favorable, the use of |
| listen to. | | | | any mechanical or electrical devices can be forbidden |
| Any damage to these hair cells lead to hearing | | | | in the treatment of damaged cochlea. |
| impairment. These hair cells are mostly damaged by | | | | Moreover, seeing the result of the early experiments, it |
| the continuous and elongated exposure to harsh and | | | | is very likely that it will work on humans too. That's |
| loud noise. | | | | why the researchers at Oregon said, "This capability is |
| The medical professionals, once completely clueless, | | | | a crucial first step in defining translational therapies to |
| had been trying hard to come up with a solution to | | | | ameliorate the effects of inner-ear disease in humans." |
| bring an end to this damage. The recent breakthrough | | | | At present, the only treatment for hear loss, cochlear |
| has shown many rays of hopes to millions of hearing | | | | implant, is not capable of bringing back the hearing to |
| impaired around the globe. | | | | its normalcy. It provides only a minimized version of the |
| The experiment, on an unborn mouse, by the medical | | | | sound sensations. |
| experts of Oregon Health and Science University | | | | Hopefully, a deaf will have his hearing days back with |
| became fruitful when it converted a different cell into a | | | | the normal and maximized sound sensations, may be |
| specific cochlear hair cell. The team is led by John | | | | very soon. |
| Brigande. | | | | |