Israeli scientists help solve genetic mystery linking hearing loss and gray hair
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and international partners identified a rare genetic variant that disrupts hearing and may alter hair pigmentation.
A rare form of congenital hearing loss accompanied by silvery-gray-colored hair in children has perplexed a Palestinian family for generations. However, an international team of researchers, including scientists from Bethlehem University, the University of Washington in Seattle, and Tel Aviv University (TAU), have finally cracked the genetic code behind this mystery.
By identifying the crucial role of the FMN1 gene, scientists have discovered how a single protein maintains the inner ear's structural integrity, thus linking human genetics with cellular mechanics. The groundbreaking study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveals that loss of the Formin-1 protein, encoded by the FMN1 gene, disrupts the cochlear microtubule architecture required for hearing in humans and mice.
Lara Kamal, who earned her bachelor's degree at Jordan University of Science and Technology and is now completing her doctorate at TAU, played a significant role in the research. The team found that a rare genetic variant in FMN1 leads to the loss of Formin-1, which is essential for inner ear architecture and hearing. This discovery not only adds FMN1 to the list of 200+ genes essential for normal hearing but also provides insights into the mechanisms underlying inherited hearing loss.
The team predicts that global partnerships will drive future genetic therapies and interventions for deafness, as gene therapy becomes a reality.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
