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Squeezing the Heart
13 October 2016

Squeezing the Heart

Around one in every 1,500 babies is born with an atrial septal defect – more commonly known as a ‘hole in the heart’. As a baby grows in the womb, many different types of cells need to work together to build the complex structures of the heart, controlled by multiple genes. This embryonic mouse has a fault in a gene called Nipbl – which is found in human babies with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, who tend to have holes in their hearts – and has an atrial septal defect. Nipbl is needed not just in the cells that become the heart but also in the tissues growing around it, helping to co-ordinate the size and growth of the heart with the rest of the embryo around it. The discovery reveals vital information about the genetic changes that could be causing atrial septal defects, which could one day be used to help affected families.

Written by Kat Arney

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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