{
  "id": 9913830,
  "title": "Israeli scientists help solve genetic mystery linking hearing loss and gray hair",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/israeli-scientists-help-solve-genetic-mystery-linking-hearing-loss",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-26T05:26:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-909541"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "Researchers from Tel Aviv University and international partners identified a rare genetic variant that disrupts hearing and may alter hair pigmentation.",
  "key_points": [
    "Palestinian family experiences generations of congenital hearing loss and gray hair.",
    "FMN1 gene's Formin-1 protein crucial for inner ear structure and hearing.",
    "Study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This breakthrough in understanding the genetic link between hearing loss and gray hair paves the way for potential future genetic therapies and interventions for deafness, driven by global partnerships.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}