title: Molecular mechanisms of inner ear development.
abstract: The inner ear is a structurally complex vertebrate organ built to encode sound, motion, and orientation in space. Given its complexity, it is not surprising that inner ear dysfunction is a relatively common consequence of human genetic mutation. Studies in model organisms suggest that many genes currently known to be associated with human hearing impairment are active during embryogenesis. Hence, the study of inner ear development provides a rich context for understanding the functions of genes implicated in hearing loss. This chapter focuses on molecular mechanisms of inner ear development derived from studies of model organisms.
authors.affiliation: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA. wud@nidcd.nih.gov
authors.forename: Doris K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014212:Tretinoin