Closer to gene therapy that would restore hearing for the congenitally deaf – Science Daily

Researchers at Oregon State University have found a key new piece of the puzzle in the quest to use gene therapy to enable people born deaf to hear.The work centers around a large gene responsible for an inner-ear protein, otoferlin. Mutations in otoferlin are linked to severe congenital hearing loss, a common type of deafness in which patients can hear almost nothing.
“For a long time otoferlin seemed to be a one-trick pony of a protein,” said Colin Johnson, associate professor of biochemistry…

Click here to view the original article.