Thanks to advances in genetics and genomics, research on inner ear development has flourished. Better approaches and experimental models have shed light on the function of a variety of vertebrate genes and their related proteins. This latest volume of Current Topics in Developmental Biology delves into this new research to show how the discovery of more genes involved in the development of the inner ear leads to the generation of new models that examine a wealth of issues -- from the origins of human deafness to the roles of genes during inner ear induction, development and differentiation. The wide variety of experimental approaches will help readers to understand the broad range of issues related to inner ear morphogenesis and other concepts from complementary areas of investigation. This state-of-the-art overview will be essential reading for researchers, clinicians and students alike.

* Scores of high-quality, full- color figures
* Detailed schemes on the structure and timing of ear development
* Current Topics in Developmental Biology is the longest-running forum for contemporary issues in developmental biology