The purpose of this project is to identify the genetic factors contributing to nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (OFCs), common subtypes, and related subclinical phenotypes. The most common subtypes of OFCs are cleft lip alone (CL), cleft lip with cleft palate (CLP), and cleft palate alone (CP). CL and CLP can be unilateral (left or right) or bilateral. Related subclinical phenotypes include occult lip muscle defects, characteristics of craniofacial morphology, and subtle speech abnormalities, which are distributed within families of affected individuals, and may reflect the underlying genetic susceptibility revealing clues about OFC etiology. The multi-ethnic dataset comprises participants recruited from Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Philippines, Nigeria, and Ghana, and includes individuals with OFCs (cases), their unaffected relatives, and unrelated healthy controls. The specific aims of this project are to perform genome-wide association (GWAS) scans of (1) OFCs, (2) cleft subtypes (CL, CLP, CP, and laterality subtypes), and (3) cleft-associated subclinical phenotypes to identify variants associated with manifestations across the cleft-risk spectrum. Phenotyping for participants involved characterization of the overt clefts in cases, including affected structures (lip, alveolus, hard and soft palates), visible microforms, completeness, and laterality. Individuals with syndromic forms of OFCs were excluded from participation. Subclinical features were collected for all participants, including unaffected relatives and controls. Orbicularis oris (upper lip muscle) defects were assessed by high-resolution ultrasonography and scored by three independent raters. Lip print patterns were assessed by digital photography and scored for paramedical whorls by three independent raters. Velopharyngeal insufficiency was assessed with perceptual screening by a speech-language pathology expert. This dataset has potential to improve knowledge of the genetic contributors to OFCs, subtypes, and associated subclinical phenotypes by facilitating genetic association discovery, meta-analysis, and replication efforts. Findings may ultimately be useful for predicting OFC risk and recurrence, and may enhance our understanding of OFC biology.

Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics (CCDG): Genetics of Orofacial Clefts, Sub-types, and Subclinical Phenotypes - CIDR

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