Faulty gene causes

Defective TMEM216 or transmembrane protein 216 was known to cause Meckel-Gruber and Joubert syndromes in kids.

The Hindu quoted lead researcher Colin A. Johnson, professor, Leeds University as saying, “These findings may ultimately lead to treatments for more common related disorders, such as spina bifida and polycystic kidney disease.”

“Spina bifida, for example, is one of the most common birth defects, affecting one in every 1,000 children,” added the researcher.