The multifactorial factors influencing cleft Lip-literature review

Congenital cleft-Lip and cleft palate have been the subject of many genetic studies, but until recently there has been no consensus as to their modes of inheritance. In fact, claims have been made for just about every genetic mechanism one can think of. Recently, however, evidence has been accumulating that favors a multifactorial basis for these malformations. The purpose of the present paper is to present the etiology of cleft lip and cleft palate both the genetic and the environmental factors. It is suggested that the genetic basis for diverse kinds of common or uncommon congenital malformations may very well be homogeneous, whilst, at the same, the environmental basis is heterogeneous.