Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Combined Deafness and Male Infertility Phenotypes through High-Throughput Sequencing in a Unique Cohort from South India.

The co-occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss and male infertility has been reported in several instances, suggesting potential shared genetic underpinnings. One such example is the contiguous gene deletion of and genes, previously associated with deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS) in males. Fifteen males with both hearing loss and infertility from southern India after exclusion for the DIS contiguous gene deletion and the gene mutations are subjected to exome sequencing.

Genetic analysis of SLC26A4 gene (pendrin) related deafness among a cohort of assortative mating families from southern India.

Purpose: Assortative mating (AM) or preferential mating is known to influence the genetic architecture of the hearing-impaired (HI) population. AM is now seen as a universal phenomenon with individuals seeking partners based on quantitative, qualitative, and behavioral phenotypes. However, the molecular genetic dynamics of AM among the HI tested in real time are limited to the DFNB1 locus.

Role of DFNB1 mutations in hereditary hearing loss among assortative mating hearing impaired families from South India.

Background: DFNB1, the first locus to have been associated with deafness, has two major genes GJB2 & GJB6, whose mutations have played vital role in hearing impairment across many ethnicities in the world. In our present study we have focused on the role of these mutations in assortative mating hearing impaired families from south India.

Methods: One hundred and six assortatively mating hearing impaired (HI) families of south Indian origin comprising of two subsets: 60 deaf marrying deaf (DXD) families and 46 deaf marrying normal hearing (DXN) families were recruited for this study.

Recurrence of reported CDH23 mutations causing DFNB12 in a special cohort of South Indian hearing impaired assortative mating families - an evaluation.

Mutations in CDH23 are known to cause autosomal-recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (DFNB12). Until now, there was only one study describing its frequency in Indian population. We screened for CDH23 mutations to identify prevalent and recurring mutations among South Indian assortative mating hearing-impaired individuals who were identified as non-DFNB1 (GJB2 and GJB6).

Rare compound heterozygosity involving dominant and recessive mutations of GJB2 gene in an assortative mating hearing impaired Indian family.

Connexin 26 (Cx-26), a gap junction protein coded by GJB2 gene, plays a very important role in recycling of potassium ions, one of the vital steps in the mechanotransduction process of hearing. Mutations in the GJB2 gene have been associated with both autosomal recessive as well as dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. As Cx-26 is linked with skin homeostasis, mutations in this gene are sometimes associated with syndromic forms of hearing loss showing skin anomalies.

Autosomal dominant hearing loss resulting from p.R75Q mutation in the GJB2 gene: nonsyndromic presentation in a South Indian family.

Mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding the gap junction protein Connexin 26 have been associated with autosomal recessive as well as dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. Owing to the involvement of connexins in skin homeostasis, GJB2 mutations have also been associated with syndromic forms of hearing loss showing various skin manifestations. We report an assortatively mating hearing impaired family of south Indian origin with three affected members spread over two generations, having p.