Nucleic Acid Protocols -- RNA Isolation from Xenopus Inner Ear Sensory Endorgans for Transcriptional Profiling and Molecular Cloning -- Synthesis of Biotin-Labeled RNA for Gene Expression Measurements Using Oligonucleotide Arrays -- In situ Hybridization Approach to Study mRNA Expression and Distribution in Cochlear Frozen Sections -- Lineage Analysis of Inner Ear Cells Using Genomic Tags for Clonal Identification -- Genetic Fate-Mapping Approaches: New Means to Explore the Embryonic Origins of the Cochlear Nucleus -- The Practical Use of Cre and loxP Technologies in Mouse Auditory Research -- Helios® Gene Gun–Mediated Transfection of the Inner Ear Sensory Epithelium -- Electroporation-Mediated Gene Transfer to the Developing Mouse Inner Ear -- Isolation of Sphere-Forming Stem Cells from the Mouse Inner Ear -- Molecular Biology of Vestibular Schwannomas -- Multilocus Sequence Typing and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis of Otitis Media Causing Pathogens -- Fluorescence “In Situ” Hybridization for the Detection of Biofilm in the Middle Ear and Upper Respiratory Tract Mucosa -- Positional Cloning of Deafness Genes -- Amino Acid Protocols -- Twist-Off Purification of Hair Bundles -- Yeast Two-Hybrid Screening to Test for Protein–Protein Interactions in the Auditory System -- The Use of 2-D Gels to Identify Novel Protein–Protein Interactions in the Cochlea -- Identification of Functionally Important Residues/Domains in Membrane Proteins Using an Evolutionary Approach Coupled with Systematic Mutational Analysis -- In Vivo Verification of Protein Interactions in the Inner Ear by Coimmunoprecipitation -- Identification of Transcription Factor–DNA Interactions Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assays -- Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Analysis of Binding Interactions of Proteins in Inner-Ear Sensory Epithelia -- Multiplexed Isobaric Tagging Protocols for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Approaches to Auditory Research -- Imaging Protocols -- Fluorescence Microscopy Methods in the Study of Protein Structure and Function -- Ion Imaging in the Cochlear Hair Cells -- Atomic Force Microscopy in Studies of the Cochlea.

While early studies of the auditory/vestibular sciences provided insights into the anatomy and neurophysiology of these systems and produced a prosthetic cochlear implant, the rise of molecular biology now permits a clear examination of the genetic basis for various hearing and balance disorders. In Auditory and Vestibular Research: Methods and Protocols, specialists in the field describe current RNA, protein, and imaging protocols that have provided insights into genetic regulation as well as a greater understanding of the genes and pathogens involved in diseases of the ear. This overview utilizes both mammalian and non-mammalian animal models as well as techniques applicable to clinical studies in order to best provide an up-to-date perspective on basic research. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology™ series format, chapters include brief introductions to their subjects, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and Notes sections, highlighting tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, Auditory and Vestibular Research: Methods and Protocols is an ideal guide to the field and a useful tool for exploring genes and proteins in other systems as well, especially systems in which tissues are scarce and a comparative approach lends itself to discovering the underlying causes of human disorders.