Genetic assembly of the heart: Implications for congenital heart disease

More children die from congenital heart defects (CHD) each year than are di agnosed with childhood cancer, yet the causes remain unknown. The remarkabl e conservation of genetic pathways regulating cardiac development in specie s ranging from flies to humans provides an opportunity to experimentally di ssect the role of critical cardiogenic factors. Utilization of model biolog ical systems has resulted in a molecular framework in which to consider the etiology of CHD. As whole genome sequencing and single nucleotide polymorp hism data become available, identification of genetic mutations predisposin g to CHD may allow preventive measures by modulation of secondary genetic o r environmental factors. In this review, genetic pathways regulating cardio genesis revealed by cross-species studies are reviewed and correlated with human CHD.