A team of researchers has discovered a gene for Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, a disorder consisting of mental retardation, heart defects and a number of physical abnormalities. The researchers were funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health. The researchers expect the discovery to speed the development of a prenatal genetic test for the syndrome. A similar test will also be developed to diagnose Cornelia de Lange Syndrome in young children suspected of having the disorder.The study was published on May 16 in the online edition of Nature Genetics.
