More than 150 genetic loci have been linked to hereditary hearing loss, but no biological treatment exists for any form of hereditary deafness. CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based genome editing can disrupt or repair virtually any sequence in the genome and has been used to treat hereditary diseases in mouse models.
In Nature, Mass Eye and Ear researchers previously reported using CRISPR-Cas9–based genome editing to recover hearing in mouse models of human genetic deafness.
However, mutations in those models primarily affected inner hair cells, whereas outer hair cells have been much more difficult to genetically manipulate. Without properly functioning outer hair cells, hearing sensitivity and frequency selectivity are severely impaired.
Now, the team has shown that the delivery of CRI
