Biomaterial Database

The genetics of congenital malformations. 1983

A G Hunter

In this paper I have attempted to review briefly both how and why visible chromosome and invisible gene abnormalities may cause congenital malformations and syndromes. The causes may represent nonspecific disturbances in the timing of embryologic events or specific effects on a particular tissue, organ, or cell type. Several different biochemical pathways or structural proteins may impinge upon a single or several embryological events; several genes may be involved in a single pathway, and different changes may affect a single gene. The end result of many of these different processes may well be a similar morphological manifestation. An appreciation and understanding of the potential diversity of genetic causes for a malformation, and the wide variation in the phenotypic expression of malformations or syndromes that is typically seen, is essential if one is to provide adequate medical management to patients and their families. The rapid advances being seen today in the fields of genetics and embryology hold great potential for a true understanding of the developmental biology of, and the ultimate prevention of, congenital malformations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009154	Mutation	Any detectable and heritable change in the genetic material that causes a change in the GENOTYPE and which is transmitted to daughter cells and to succeeding generations.	Mutations
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D002869	Chromosome Aberrations	Abnormal number or structure of chromosomes. Chromosome aberrations may result in CHROMOSOME DISORDERS.	Autosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Aberrations,Abnormalities, Autosome,Abnormalities, Chromosomal,Abnormalities, Chromosome,Chromosomal Aberrations,Chromosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Abnormalities,Aberration, Chromosomal,Aberration, Chromosome,Aberration, Cytogenetic,Aberrations, Chromosomal,Aberrations, Chromosome,Aberrations, Cytogenetic,Abnormalities, Cytogenetic,Abnormality, Autosome,Abnormality, Chromosomal,Abnormality, Chromosome,Abnormality, Cytogenetic,Autosome Abnormality,Chromosomal Aberration,Chromosomal Abnormalities,Chromosomal Abnormality,Chromosome Aberration,Chromosome Abnormality,Cytogenetic Aberration,Cytogenetic Abnormality
D005796	Genes	A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms.	Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000013	Congenital Abnormalities	Malformations of organs or body parts during development in utero.	Birth Defects,Congenital Defects,Deformities,Fetal Anomalies,Fetal Malformations,Abnormalities, Congenital,Defects, Congenital,Abnormality, Congenital,Anomaly, Fetal,Birth Defect,Congenital Abnormality,Congenital Defect,Defect, Birth,Defect, Congenital,Deformity,Fetal Anomaly,Fetal Malformation,Malformation, Fetal
D012641	Selection, Genetic	Differential and non-random reproduction of different genotypes, operating to alter the gene frequencies within a population.	Natural Selection,Genetic Selection,Selection, Natural
D025063	Chromosome Disorders	Clinical conditions caused by an abnormal chromosome constitution in which there is extra or missing chromosome material (either a whole chromosome or a chromosome segment). (from Thompson et al., Genetics in Medicine, 5th ed, p429)	Autosomal Chromosome Disorders,Chromosome Abnormality Disorders,Chromosomal Disorders,Autosomal Chromosome Disorder,Chromosomal Disorder,Chromosome Abnormality Disorder,Chromosome Disorder,Chromosome Disorder, Autosomal,Chromosome Disorders, Autosomal,Disorder, Chromosomal,Disorder, Chromosome,Disorder, Chromosome Abnormality,Disorders, Chromosomal,Disorders, Chromosome