[Lip-jaw-palate clefts. Heterogenous disease pictures].
BACKGROUND
Orofacial clefts are congenital structural deficits involving the lip with or without the palate. The genetic origins of orofacial clefts have been considered as heterogeneous for a long time. Non-syndromatic clefts are based on complex traits.


CONCLUSIONS
The different approaches towards the genetics of this multifactorial disease are discussed and the consequences for genetic counselling for patients, persons at risk and their relatives are reflected upon.
Kunstmann
E
E
Molekulare Humangenetik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801 Bochum. erdmute.kunstmann@ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Radtke
J
J
Epplen
J T
JT
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000235:genetics*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D013577:Syndrome