Stem cells create the cells we use for hearing

US scientists have developed mouse cells that look and act just like their inner-ear hair cells — the linchpin to our sense of hearing and balance.

Eurekalert: 13 May 2010

TechNyou note: this is still along way from any cure for deafness, but it might go someway to understanding what goes wrong with these cells to lead to deafness.

Reference

Research from Stanford University, USA, to publish in 14 May issue of Cell