Scientists have identified a protein called Erk that is necessary for wrapping nerve fibers with myelin, an insulating substance that allows messages to travel from the brain to the body. Erk is important for neurodevelopment and genetic mutations linked to it have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Researchers also discovered that a microRNA called miR-96 regulates hair cell development in the inner ear and is responsible for coordinating hearing; a mutation in miR-96 has been shown to cause deafness in humans. These findings provide insights into neurodevelopmental disorders and hearing loss, and could lead to new therapies.

1. Function of Novel Molecule That Underlies Deafness AND Scientists Link Protein to the Insulation of the Nervous System's Wiring STEFFANY FRANCO SANUDO Third semester Medicine student

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4. INTRODUCTION These in vitro studies have been absolutely important for understanding how things work on a molecular level . miR-96 normally regulates hair cell development by influencing the expression of many different genes .

5. Scientists Link Protein to the Insulation of the Nervous System's Wiring Important fuction for the devolpment of the nervous system that is a protein called Erk. Necessary for wrapping nerve fibers with myelin a insulation substance, that lets send messages from the brain to the peripheral limbs and back again . Necessary for wrapping nerve fibers with myelin a insulation substance, that lets send messages from the brain to the peripheral limbs and back again.

8. Scientists Link Protein to the Insulation of the Nervous System's Wiring Schwann cells But there was a dramatic effect in the Schwann cells, which wraps the fibers in the peripheral nervous systems with myelin having a fast conduction of signals. These cells were just devasted at every stage of development.

9. PERSONAL OPINION I think that these types of studies have a major advance in patients with neurodevelopment such as neurofibromatosis and investigating Erk proteins importance to link insulation in the brain according to the cascade MAP kinase pathway, concluding a successful solid development in the peripheral nervous system.

10. Function of Novel Molecule That Underlies Human Deafness Revealed Scientists have revealed that the molecular mechanism underlying deafness is caused by a mutation of a specific microRNA called miR-96. The discovery could provide the basis for treating progressive hearing loss and deafness.

14. PERSONAL OPINION I think that progressive hearing loss affects a lot of people, with this research can provide excellent results for our understanding of auditory development to encourage new effective therapies, from detecting on time miR-96 mutation.

15. MEDICAL UTILITY Neurodevelopmental disorders like neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease that affects 1:3000. People with this disease their Schwann cells grow in an unregulated fashion, pointing peripheral nerves with tumors, can be stopped because of this research.

16. MEDICAL UTILITY Scientists have discovered almost 30 genetic mutations in the MAP kinase pathway. Increasins awareness of the importance of Erk signaling to neurodevelopmental disorders.

17. MEDICAL UTILITY These new findings suggest that miR-96 is a master regulator responsible for coordinating the development of the sensory cells that are vital to hearing

18. MEDICAL UTILITY Since the mutation in miR-96 is known to cause human deafness and microRNA molecules can be targeted by drugs, the work also raises new opportunities for developing treatments to treat hearing loss