Is a cleft lip inherited??

Answer 1

here is a good website explaining if its inherited :
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1210.asp

Answer 2

Cleft lip

If only skin tissue is affected one speaks of cleft lip.

Cleft lip is formed in the upper lip as either a small gap or dent in the lip (partial or incomplete cleft) or continues into the nose (complete cleft). Lip cleft can occur as one sided (unilateral) or two sided (bilateral). It is due to the failure of fusion of the maxillary and medial nasal processes (formation of the primary palate).

Causes of cleft

During the first six to eight weeks of pregnancy, the shape of the embryo's head is formed. Five tissues grow: one from the back of the neck over the top of the head down towards the upper lip; two from the cheeks, which meet the first layer to form the upper lip; and two from each side, which form the chin and lower lip. If these tissues fail to meet, a gap appears where the tissues should have joined.

The cause of cleft lip and cleft palate formation can be genetic in nature. A specific gene that increases three-fold the occurrence of these deformities has been identified in 2004 as reported by the BBC.

Environmental influences may also cause, or interact with genetics, to produce orofacial clefting. Scientists have investigated seasonal causes (such as pesticide exposure); maternal diet and vitamin intake; retinoids, which are members of the vitamin A family; anticonvulsant drugs; alcohol; cigarette use; nitrate compounds; organic solvents; parental exposure to lead; and illegal drugs (cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, etc.) as teratogens that increase the possibility of clefting.

If a person is born with a cleft, the chances of that person having a child with a cleft, given no other obvious factor, rises to 1 in 14 (instead of 1 in 700). Research continues to investigate the extent to which Folic acid can reduce the incidence of clefting.

Clefting seems to be at least in part related to ethnicity, occurring most often among Asians, Latinos and Native Americans (1 in 500), next most often among persons of European ethnicity (1 in 700) and least often among persons of African ethnicity (1 in 1000).

In some cases, cleft palate is caused by syndromes which also cause other problems. Stickler's Syndrome can cause cleft lip and palate, joint pain, and myopia. Loeys-Dietz syndrome can cause cleft palate or bifid uvula, hypertelorism, and aortic aneurysm. Many clefts run in families, even though there does not seem to be any identifiable syndrome present.

Answer 3

My best friend was born with a cleft lip. Dont worry about, there are all kinds of surgery that can correct it. Shes had alot of surgery, but in the end they all worked. She one of the hottest chicks in our neck of the woods, a real head turner. If your worried about passing it on, dont be.

Answer 4

Yes

Answer 5

yes it is hereditary but it if you had cleft lip it does not mean your baby will definately have it too. This is also something that can be easily fixed.

Answer 6

No ,it's just a birth defect .

Answer 7

no...all it is is when the bones in your maxilla are not fused together properly....could happen to any newborn

Answer 8

I think it can be.