Significant phenotypic variability of Muenke syndrome in identical twins

Luis F Escobar1, Adam K Hiett, Anne Marnocha

  • 1Medical Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Center, St. Vincent Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. lfescoba@stvincent.org

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Pleiotropy01:33

Pleiotropy

Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...