Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
07:13
Isolation and Time-Lapse Imaging of Primary Mouse Embryonic Palatal Mesenchyme Cells to Analyze Collective Movement Attributes
Published on: February 13, 2021
Cleft lip and palate genetics and application in early embryological development
Wenli Yu1, Maria Serrano, Symone San Miguel
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dallas, TX 75246, USA.
Summary
Genetic factors significantly contribute to facial clefts, including cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip (CL). This review details genetic mutations and environmental factors impacting human palatal development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Craniofacial Development
Background:
- Head development involves complex cell interactions and signaling pathways.
- Disruptions in these processes can lead to craniofacial defects like facial clefts.
- Facial clefts, including cleft palate (CP) and cleft lip (CL), are common congenital anomalies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the genetic contributions to facial clefts, with and without cleft palate.
- To explore the interplay between genetic mutations, environmental factors, and palatal development.
- To provide a comprehensive table of genes associated with syndromic and non-syndromic CP/CL.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on genetic and environmental factors in palatal development.
- Synthesis of information on early palatal development, including muscle and bone formation.
- Compilation of known genes implicated in syndromic and non-syndromic CP/CL.
Main Results:
- Identified numerous genes associated with syndromic and non-syndromic cleft palate and cleft lip.
- Highlighted the impact of specific genetic mutations on human palatal development.
- Included genes linked to environmental risk factors for CP/CL.
Conclusions:
- Genetic factors play a crucial role in the etiology of facial clefts.
- Understanding these genetic contributions is essential for diagnosing and potentially treating these conditions.
- Further research into gene-environment interactions is needed to fully elucidate the causes of CP/CL.
Related Concept Videos
01:33Cleavage and Blastulation
After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.
01:51Determination
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...