先天失聪 z-bo 2020-09-19 351

　　According to Hong Kong's Ming Pao, nearly half of the cases of congenital hearing loss are related to genetic defects, involving more than 70 different genes. Among them, the ears are used to convert sound into electronic signals, which are sent to the hair cells for analysis in the brain, or because of a defect in a gene called TMC1, the sound is "inaudible".

　　The Boston Children's Hospital in the United States focused on the study of TMC1 deficiencies, using rats with severe hearing loss due to TMC1 problems. These mice can't even hear the sound of 115 decibels (about the same as the sound of a rock concert). Experts injected the genetically modified virus into the ears of mice to infect their hair cells to repair the defective gene TMC1. Results Within 1 month, the hearing of the infected mice improved significantly. When they heard a sound of 85 decibels (approximately equivalent to the sound of a car driving), they had reactions such as jumping and appearing corresponding auditory brain waves; the uninfected mice did not Variety.

　　The medical expert who participated in the research, Jeffrey Holt, said that further research is needed to confirm the durability of the treatment effect. It is believed that treatments for genetic deafness can be developed in the near future.