Transparent zebra fish may hold the clue to restoring hearing for humans who have lost the hair cells that stimulate nerves in their auditory system. Birth defects, disease and some drugs can trigger the loss of the hair on these specialized cells. In zebra fish, which rely on a similar cell arrangement for balance, hair cells regenerate if lost, says David J. Kozlowski, a geneticist at the Medical College of Georgia. He hopes to identify the genes that spur regeneration in zebra fish. Replacing or reactivating hair-growth genes could make it possible to correct hearing loss and balance disorders in humans.
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