Identification of shared and unique gene families associated with oral clefts

Research Summary

Oral clefts: Distinct genetic profiles characterize subtypes

Oral clefts: Distinct genetic profiles characterize subtypes. Oral cleft subtypes are characterized by distinct gene profiles that may reflect differing genetic causes. Oral clefts, the most common congenital defect in humans, are associated with a large number of genes. Noriko Funato and Masataka Nakamura at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan, aimed to identify the genetic differences underlying the diverse nature of this disorder by grouping and analyzing the genes associated with different oral cleft subtypes according to their known functions. They found that different oral cleft subtypes were associated with genes with distinct functions. In particular, genes linked to the cleft lip and/or palate subtype were developmentally and genetically different from those of other oral cleft subtypes. A better understanding of the underlying genetic causes of oral clefts will allow for improved diagnosis and prevention.