VAMP7: Study Identifies New Genetic Cause Of Male Reproductive Birth Defects

Researchers have defined a previously unrecognized genetic cause for two types of birth defects found in newborn boys  "Cryptorchidism and hypospadias are among the most common birth defects but the causes are usually unknown," said Dr. Dolores Lamb, director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine at Baylor and lead author of the report in Nature Medicine.  Cryptorchidism is characterized by the failure of descent of one or both testes into the scrotum during fetal development. In the adult man, the testes produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone. Hypospadias is the abnormal placement of the opening of the urethra on the penis. Both birth defects are usually surgically repaired during infancy. read more

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