September 25, 2007 - MBL, WOODS HOLE, MA-In a breakthrough that will likely accelerate research aimed at cures for hearing loss, tinnitus, and balance problems, scientists have perfected a laboratory culturing technique that provides a reliable new source of cells critical to understanding certain inner-ear disorders.
The cells, known as hair cells, are the essential sound and balance detectors in the inner ear. Damage to these cells is a key factor in hearing and balance loss, and while birds, fishes, and amphibians can quickly regrow damaged hair cells, humans cannot. Until now, scientists seeking clues to this problem have been hampered by difficult procedures required to gather these cells for their research.
Can some one summaries ?
The cells responsible for hearing can now be grown in a lab. Humans cannot regrow these on their own, so it is interesting that they have been able to do it in a lab. Maybe they will figure out how to make humans regrow the cells for hearing. It could help out deafness and other hearing problems... (as long as the neuralgic connections are still intact)
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