Baking soda and vinegar have been used as home remedies for generations and today we
are only a mouse-click away from claims that baking soda, lemon juice, and apple cider …

Otoliths are bioinorganic minerals within the inner ear of all bony fishes. They grow
incrementally, laying down alternating protein-rich and mineral-rich bands daily …

Ion channels form the basis for cellular electrical signaling. Despite the scores of genetically
identified ion channels selective for other monatomic ions, only one type of proton-selective …

The ability to sense sour provides an important sensory signal to prevent the ingestion of
unripe, spoiled, or fermented foods. Taste and somatosensory receptors in the oral cavity …

Abstract Ammonium (NH4+), a breakdown product of amino acids that can be toxic at high
levels, is detected by taste systems of organisms ranging from C. elegans to humans and …

Loss-of-function mutations cause many mendelian diseases. Here we aimed to create a
catalog of autosomal genes that are completely knocked out in humans by rare loss-of …

The vestibular system of the inner ear is responsible for the perception of motion and gravity.
Key elements of this organ are otoconia, tiny biomineral particles in the utricle and the …

Background: Otoconia are bio‐crystals that couple mechanic forces to the sensory hair cells
in the utricle and saccule, a process essential for us to sense linear acceleration and gravity …

The stone-like otoliths from the ears of teleost fishes are involved in balance and hearing
and consist of calcium carbonate crystallites embedded in a protein framework. We report …

Sensory epithelia of the inner ear contain two major cell types: hair cells and supporting
cells. It has been clear for a long time that hair cells play critical roles in mechanoreception …