Review series: The cell biology of hearing.
Mammals have an astonishing ability to sense and discriminate sounds of different frequencies and intensities. Fundamental for this process are mechanosensory hair cells in the inner ear that convert sound-induced vibrations into electrical signals. The study of genes that are linked to deafness has provided insights into the cell biological mechanisms that control hair cell development and their function as mechanosensors.
Schwander
Martin
M
Department of Cell Biology, Dorris Neuroscience Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Kachar
Bechara
B
Müller
Ulrich
U
D000818:Animals; D003638:Deafness / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006199:Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / Q000378:metabolism*; D006309:Hearing / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000235:genetics*