Since the publication of the first draft of the human genome sequence in 2001, there has been an explosion in the number of genes associated with human genetic diseases, including those involved in human deafness. Clinical studies, genome-wide association studies, and exome resequencing have all added to the ever-expanding candidate list of genes with a role in hearing. Because human genetic data is primarily correlative, this explosion of data has increased the need for more efficient approaches to confirm these candidate genes in a model system. In addition, as our understanding of stem cells and genome editing advances, the potential for restoring hearing through regenerative medicine increases. This review highlights the role zebrafish can play as a model for human deafness, and also its potential role in discovering regenerative medicine therapies to restore lost hearing.
© 2016 S. Karger AG, BaselHearing loss is one of the most common quality-oflife pathologies affecting the human population. Approximately 2-3 of every 1,000 newborns have a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears, and more than 10% of the American population over 18 years of age are suffering with some level of hearing loss, with a clear progression in hearing loss as the person ages (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, http:// www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ statistics/Pages/quick. aspx). At age 70 and above, over 50% of the population has measurable hearing loss.Hearing is mediated by a sensory epithelium containing acoustic mechanosensory receptors called hair cells and a second cell type known as supporting cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear [1] . This epithelium converts sound waves into electrical impulses ultimately interpreted as hearing in the brain. Hearing loss can be caused by many factors such as exposure to loud noise (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/staticresources/ health/hearing/NIDCD-Noise-Induced-HearingLoss.pdf), ototoxic chemicals (aminoglycoside antibiotics, cisplatin) [2] , infection [3] , or head injury [4,5] . Genetic factors are likely to play an important role in disease pathogenesis, and recent work has attempted to identify genes that make individuals more susceptible to progressive hearing loss [6] .Like most fish, zebrafish have two related sensory organs that utilize the mechanosensory hair cell receptors: (1) the inner ear similar to mammalian ears used to detect sound, gravity, and motion, and (2) the lateral line [7] , a fish-and am-