This goes into Neural Crest tissue and the normal ear. As we all know by now, Neural Crest genetic variations such as KIT and perhaps Waardenburg are why a range of problems from increased risk of cardiomyopathy all the way to deafness or partial deafness occur in ferrets w head blazes, panda white heads, and other extraneous white spotting not found in standard ferret markings. If the article is not available to nonsubscribers now it should be in a week. [login not required. BIG] The actual topic is a different flaw in how ears form but it describes clearly how the Neural Crest is involved. <http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/349161/description/How_mammals_grow_ears_With_a_flaw> [Posted in FML 7739]