Focus on genetic research
10 June 2003
In the UK, half of all babies born with a hearing loss have faulty genes that have been passed on from their parents. By locating these genes, researchers will eventually be able to develop revolutionary new treatments for many common hearing problems. Professor Bob Mueller looks at the future of genetic research.
Genetics is the study of genes – the basic units of inheritance. Genes provide the instructions for our body to grow and develop in a certain way and are passed down from one generation to the next, with family traits such as eye colour or height encoded within a genetic code. However, in some cases, faults within the genetic make-up can also be passed down from parent to child – this is one of the most common factors causing hearing problems.
Recent breakthroughs in genetic research hold the promise of developing dramatic new treatments for many common hearing problems, and Deafness Research UK teams are at the cutting edge of this exciting research. The charity has already been responsible for many important developments in our understanding of inherited deafness, including the isolation of genes responsible for various forms of hearing loss. This work has profound consequences for parents, allowing geneticists to predict the likelihood of future children being born deaf. Through research, this service should soon become even more accurate and widely available, enabling parents to prepare for the birth of a deaf baby and ensuring that a hearing-impaired child's social development and language acquisition are not affected by late diagnosis.
With funding from Deafness Research UK, I am currently working on a major study of the genes which cause childhood deafness. My colleagues and I are analysing the genetic structure of around 200 families for mistakes or mutations in a number of recently identified genes responsible for hearing, with the aim of helping to determine the chances of parents giving birth to deaf children. The project, supported by the National Lottery Charities Board, represents an important step forward in the development of a national strategy for genetic testing and will help determine future priorities for research into the isolation of deafness genes.
Despite the breathtaking pace of this research, the prospect of developing gene-based drug treatments, or directly replacing faulty genes through genetic therapy, remains many years away. With the support of Deafness Research UK, I hope to continue to make progress in this exciting field of research, bringing the day when these treatments finally become a reality ever closer.
