[Developmental genes and dysmorphology].

Abstract

Until recently, clinical dysmorphology was the poor parent of clinical medicine and human genetics. However, the studies of children affected with multiple congenital abnormality syndromes are the first step to recognize syndromes for diagnosis identification, leading to prognosis and care for the children and to genetic counseling for the family. These studies must lead to the identification and analysis of developmental genes involved in normal and abnormal morphogenesis. Dysmorphology leads to a better understanding of abnormal development, genetic causes and embryological development. The identification of different genes from various gene families involved in dysmorphogenesis has recently emerged. These developmental genes often act as patterning genes and as possible oncogenes; they are of interest for developmental biologists and for medical geneticists.