The research was funded by the
Royal National Institute for the Deaf and conducted in The
Netherlands.
It discovered that changes
in the PTPRQ gene can lead to deafness after studying the
genetics of families where several members had inherited
childhood hearing loss.
The research project
compared the DNA of individual family members in order to
identify regions in the DNA likely to contain the genes that
cause deafness. Using this approach, the researchers
discovered this and a further two new deafness-causing
genes.
All three genes are thought
to play an important role in the development of the delicate
inner ear hair cell, which is essential for hearing.
Dr Sohaila Rastan, RNID’s
Chief Scientific Advisor said: “Knowledge of genes causing
deafness tells us more about how our hearing works. This
research will help develop medicines that are desperately
needed to prevent deafness and restore hearing. ''
Dr Hannie Kremer from
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre said: “Our
approach is identifying more genes for congenital deafness.
This knowledge will help improve treatments for patients,
genetic counselling, molecular diagnosis and the development
of advanced therapeutic strategies.”
The research was published
in the American Journal of Human Genetics.
