This locus encodes a sensory epithelial protein. It was defined by linkage analysis in three Pakistani families to lie between D9S1818 (centromeric) and D9SH6 (telomeric). Mutations at this locus have been associated with autosomal recessive deafness. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2010] see less This locus encodes a sensory epithelial protein. It was defined by linkage analysis in three Pakistani families to lie between D9S1818 (centromeric) and D9SH6 (telomeric). Mutations at this locus have been associated with autosomal recessive deafness. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2010]