The first patient in a pioneering gene therapy trial had her hearing restored.

All Ears

The Story

The first patient in a pioneering gene therapy trial had her hearing restored.

Tell me more.

Opal Sandy, an 18-month-old from the UK, was born deaf due to auditory neuropathy, a condition caused by a faulty gene that doesn’t allow the ear to communicate sound to the brain properly. As part of the trial, researchers injected a harmless virus with a working copy of the gene into Opal’s ear. After nearly six months, clinicians said she had almost normal hearing, even the ability to hear whispers. She can now respond to her parents’ voices and has started saying “Dada,” and “bye-bye.” Experts say they’re hopeful this gene therapy could work for many types of hearing loss.

What do you mean?

About one in 500 babies are born with hearing loss or develop it in early childhood, and roughly half of those cases are caused by genetics, according to the CDC. The trial, which began last year, will continue to enroll patients under the age of 18 from the UK, the US, and Spain. They will be followed for up to five years to see how much their hearing has improved. Meanwhile, doctors in other countries, including China, are working on similar treatments for deafness caused by the gene variation that Opal has.

theSkimm

The first results from an international trial aimed at treating hearing loss through gene therapy showed groundbreaking and better than expected results. Now, experts say this type of treatment could be a game changer for genetic deafness.

What’s ruffling people’s feathers…

Lab-grown meat. Alabama is following in Florida's footsteps and has become the second state in the country to ban the sale, distribution, and manufacturing of cultivated meat. In recent years, companies have been experimenting with different ways to grow meat in a lab, offering a cruelty-free and possibly climate-friendly alternative. Last year, the Department of Agriculture cleared lab-grown meat for sale in the US, but it is still far from being available in grocery stores. Lawmakers who support the bans say they want to protect the future of farms and ranchers in America. However, supporters of lab-grown meat say people should be given the right to choose whether or not they want to buy the product. Other states like Arizona and Tennessee are considering similar bans.

Where the rules could be changing…

The US-Mexico border. Yesterday, the Biden administration announced a new rule aimed at streamlining the asylum process along the southern border. The move by the Department of Homeland Security would allow immigration officials to more quickly reject asylum seekers who are suspected of committing serious crimes, having links to terrorism, or posing any other danger. Currently, an immigration judge decides these types of asylum cases, but that can take years. The new rule could expedite the process so it only takes days. The change still has to go through a public comment period before it can go into effect. The measure comes as immigration has become a sore point for President Biden ahead of the November election.

What has a message for dog parents…

The CDC. This week, the agency announced tighter restrictions for anyone looking to bring a dog into the US, in an effort to help prevent the spread of rabies. For anyone who falls in love with a dog while vacationing, the pup must appear healthy, be at least six months old, have a microchip, and a valid rabies vaccine. The CDC also wants to know where the dog has been for six months before coming to the US. Otherwise, the dog could be quarantined for 28 days. These rules also apply to anyone who decides to travel abroad with their dog.

Who’s entering the political ring…

Barron Trump.

What’s looking “Ice Cold”...

A new museum exhibition.

Who’s giving us a new nepo baby…

Hailey Bieber.

What could make Wednesdays more exciting…

Free chicken nuggets.

Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.