Researchers Identify Previously Unrecognized Genetic Disorder

SPOKANE, Wash. - (Business Wire) Researchers from four laboratories that perform diagnostic genetic testing of chromosome abnormalities in individuals with unexplained physical and developmental disabilities recently identified a previously unrecognized genetic disorder.

In their study, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, researchers at Signature Genomic Laboratories, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine independently identified a total of seven individuals with nearly identical-sized deletions, or missing sections of DNA, on one of their two copies of chromosome 17. None of the children’s parents had the section of DNA missing, which suggests the anomaly is causative of the children’s physical and developmental disabilities which included a combination of developmental delays including speech delay, postnatal growth retardation, heart defects and hand, foot and limb abnormalities.

The researchers estimate the incidence of this genetic abnormality in the general population to be approximately 1 in 115,000.

Two of the genes in the deleted region were of particular interest to researchers because of their potential role in the heart and limb anomalies in the children. TBX2 and TBX4 are members of a closely related gene family, the T-box genes, that is involved in development. Mutations of TBX4 have been identified in individuals with small patella syndrome, characteristic features of which include delayed tissue formation of the pelvic bones and femur and foot anomalies. Several other genetic disorders for which heart and limb defects are characteristic features have been associated with disruption of T-box genes, which led the researchers to suggest the newly reported disorder is a similar “heart-hand” syndrome.

“In a substantial proportion of children with mental retardation and developmental delays, the genetic basis is unknown,” said Dr. Blake C. Ballif, Director of Product Development and Research at Signature Genomic Laboratories and lead author of the study. “Therefore, the identification of a previously unknown genetic aberration sheds further light on the genetic basis of human disease, in addition to providing an answer for these children and their families.”

Said Dr. Ballif, “In addition, this report represents a collaborative academic effort by several otherwise competing diagnostic laboratories to disseminate important clinical and molecular information that significantly contributes to our understanding of the molecular basis of human genetic disease.”

About Signature Genomic Laboratories

Signature Genomic Laboratories, founded in 2003, was the first laboratory to provide microarray-based cytogenetic diagnostics with its proprietary SignatureChip® and is the leader in providing microarray-based chromosome analysis. Signature’s worldwide client base includes clinical geneticists, neurologists, pediatricians, neonatologists, obstetricians, and the research community. Signature is CAP accredited, CLIA certified, and has clinical licenses from New York, California, Rhode Island and Florida. Additional information about Signature Genomic Laboratories is available at www.signaturegenomics.com.

About Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Ranked in the U.S.News & World Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” and Parents magazine’s 2009 top ten “Best Children's Hospitals” lists, Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare networks providing care for infants, children, adolescents and adult patients with congenital disease. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities in the U.S., supporting basic, clinical, translational and health services research activities at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. With more than 300,000 square feet of dedicated research space, The Research Institute is organized into 12 Centers of Emphasis encompassing gene therapy; molecular and human genetics; vaccines and immunity; childhood cancer; perinatal research; injury research and policy; microbial pathogenesis; cardiovascular and pulmonary research, mathematical medicine; biobehavioral health, innovation in pediatric practice; and clinical and translational research. Nationwide Children’s remains true to its original mission since its founding in 1892 of providing care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org/Research.

About Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, the only private medical school in the Greater Southwest, is recognized as a premier academic health science center and is known for excellence in education, research and patient care. Read more about BCM history.

For 2010, U.S.News & World Report ranked BCM 17th overall among the nation's top medical schools for research and for primary care. BCM is listed 13th among all U.S. medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding, and No. 2 in the nation in federal funding for research and development in the biological sciences at universities and colleges by the National Science Foundation.

Located in the Texas Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine has affiliations with eight teaching hospitals, each known for medical excellence. Read more about our affiliates.

The college has total research support of $302 million, with $241 million from federal sources, and more than 90 research and patient-care centers and units. Currently, BCM trains more than 3,000 medical, graduate, nurse anesthesia, and physician assistant students, as well as residents and post-doctoral fellows.

Signature Genomic Laboratories
Blake C. Ballif, Ph.D., 509-944-4219
Director of Product Development and Research
ballif@signaturegenomics.com



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