Question

Will our knowledge of the role of Sonic hedgehog in holoprosencephaly lead to a cure or a way to prevent this from happening? What would be the complicating factors in developing a way to cure holoprosencephaly?

Answer 1

Sonic hefgehog is considered to be an indicating fragment which is encrypted by the identical gene sonic hedgehog. It plays a vital role in organogenesis and chiefly in the advancement of craniofacial tissues. Unavailability of this hormone results in holoprosencephaly. As of now there is no particular cure for holoprosencephaly. The cure depends on the extent of the deformities of face and brain. Generally, babies having this disease die before or immediately after birth and do not survive due to serious malformations. Treatments for this disease is still complicated because every child has different deformities and the treatments need to be customized based on the seriousness of malformations.