Why are hair cells important, and what type of therapy is being developed to regenerate them?

Hair cells are very important because they are the receptors for the senses of position and hearing. Scientists are in the process of developing gene therapy to regenerate hair cells. For a few years, scientists have recognized that avian hair cells regenerate. However, recently researchers have discovered a way to regenerate hair cells in mammals. In 2005, researchers genetically modified a cold virus that they injected into guinea pigs. As a result of this experiment, the guinea pigs developed new hair cells. In addition, the hair cells functioned when the guinea pigs were tested using auditory brainstem responses. Thus gene therapy holds great promise for the regeneration of hair cells in humans.