A multi-institution study of more than 11,000 children with congenital heart disease (CHD) has led to the identification of 60 genes linked to the condition.
While heart disease is a common cause of death in newborns, the genetic causes of 80 percent of CHDs are not understood.
Senior author of the study, Professor Richard Lifton, president of the Rockefeller University, New York said: 'These findings provide new insight into the complex biology of heart development. Moreover, with this information, physicians can screen children with CHD for the genetic cause to clarify diagnosis, prognosis and risk of CHD in subsequent children.'
The findings are published in PNAS, and Mirage News has more.