Gene-environment interactions in birth defect etiology: Challenges and opportunities
Robert J Lipinski1, Robert S Krauss2
1Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States.
Current Topics in Developmental Biology
|January 27, 2023
Summary
Understanding birth defects requires exploring genetic and environmental factors. This review highlights progress in studying multifactorial causes and gene-environment interactions for better prevention and therapies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Birth defects are common congenital conditions with significant health impacts.
- Familial and syndromic forms have well-defined genetic bases.
- Nonsyndromic birth defects often result from complex gene-environment interactions.
Approach:
- Reviewing current understanding of multifactorial birth defect etiology.
- Comparing birth defects with other gene-environment interaction diseases like cancer and immunodeficiency.
- Analyzing strengths and weaknesses of various model systems in studying etiology.
Key Points:
- Progress in defining genetic causes contrasts with challenges in identifying environmental risk factors.
- Gene-environment interactions are crucial but difficult to pinpoint in birth defect etiology.
- New conceptual and technical approaches are emerging to resolve these complex interactions.
Conclusions:
- Multifactorial etiology is key to understanding birth defects.
- Model systems provide insights into mechanisms but have limitations.
- Future research should focus on refining gene-environment interaction studies for improved prevention and treatment strategies.
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