ANKS1B is a potential candidate gene for short stature and failure to thrive in children

Pankaj Prasun1, Rebecca C Pulvermacher1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetics, American Family Children's Hospital Madison, Madison, USA.

Insights

Genetic deletions in the ANKS1B gene may cause short stature and failure to thrive in children. This finding expands the known genetic causes of pediatric growth issues.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Short stature and failure to thrive are common pediatric referral reasons with diverse etiologies.
  • Genetic syndromes represent approximately 5% of childhood short stature cases.
  • Genomic technologies are increasing the identification of genes linked to growth disorders.

Discussion:

  • A novel ANKS1B intragenic deletion was identified in a child with short stature and failure to thrive.
  • ANKS1B is known for neurodevelopmental roles, but evidence suggests involvement in somatic growth.
  • This case highlights ANKS1B as a potential candidate gene for unexplained pediatric growth failure.

Key Insights:

  • Discovery of ANKS1B intragenic deletion as a cause of short stature and failure to thrive.
  • Linking ANKS1B to somatic growth, expanding its known clinical relevance.
  • Identification of subtle physical features associated with ANKS1B deletion.

Outlook:

  • Further investigation into ANKS1B's role in pediatric growth is warranted.
  • Clinical genetic testing may benefit from including ANKS1B in panels for short stature.
  • Understanding ANKS1B's function could lead to targeted growth therapies.
Abstract

No abstract available in PubMed .

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.7K
Lethal Alleles02:41

Lethal Alleles

Agouti: A Lethal Allele
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
15.7K
Polygenic Traits01:18

Polygenic Traits

When more than one gene is responsible for a given phenotype, the trait is considered polygenic. Human height is a polygenic trait. Studies have uncovered hundreds of loci that influence height, and there are believed to be many more. Due to the high number of genes involved, as well as environmental and nutritional factors, height varies significantly within a given population. The distribution of height forms a bell-shaped curve, with relatively few individuals in the population at the...
66.5K
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,...
41.1K
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
4.2K
Human Genetics01:28

Human Genetics

Human genetics provides a profound framework for understanding the interplay between genetic predispositions and human psychology. At the heart of this discipline lies the study of how genes influence physical traits, behaviors, and susceptibility to diseases. Each person carries a unique genetic code that subtly or significantly shapes their psychological and behavioral landscape.
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
719