How mammals grow ears: With a flaw

Newly discovered rupture-and-repair process could explain a lot about infections and hearing defects

Hey evolution, thanks for nothing. When a mammal embryo develops, its middle ear appears to form in a pop-and-patch way that seals one end with substandard, infection-prone tissue.

HEAR THIS A lawn of cilia projections (green) lines part of the mammalian middle ear.