Moroccan geneticists identify gene of rare hereditary disease

A team of Moroccan genetics searchers have identified the location, on the Human genome, a gene responsible of a rare genetic form of a hydrotic ectodermic dysplasia.

The hereditary disease which entails teeth anomalies, baldness and abnormal perspiration can lead to death in case of very hot weather particularly among infants.

The discovery that was reported by the prestigious British Journal of Medical Genetics was also announced at the annual meeting of the American Genetics Society held on October 26. The results of the discovery will be published by the American Journal of Human genetics.

The Moroccan researchers, who work in the department of genetics and molecular biology at the "Institut National d'Hygiene" are trying to find a relationship between consanguinity (relations by ancestry) which is still frequent in Morocco and disabling genetic diseases in some families.