Researchers have concluded that a gene responsible for most cases of hereditary deafness may have an unexpected benefit: it may protect you from infection.

Stella Man, a member of David Kelsell's team at Queen Mary, University of London, spoke at the European Society of Human Genetics meeting in Amsterdam on 8 May. She announced that the Cx26 protein encoded by a deafness gene might help wounds to heal.

Faster healing should help to prevent infection, for example by limiting bacteria's access to the blood after surgery, she says. "It's speculation, but maybe the Cx26 deafness mutations have been selected owing to their beneficial effects on wounds."

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