Neat News 405 (added 2017-02-08)
Gene Therapy for Hearing

Public Domain by Thomas Woolner
Hearing depends on the amplification of sound waves by small hair cells in the ear and on small hair cells that transform the amplified waves into electric signals. If the hairs do not form normally this can lead to deafness. By a new gene therapy scientists were able to stimulate the growth of these hairs in mice. This could lead to a therapy of certain forms of deafness.