by Jason Stotts
The BBC is reporting that scientists have isolated a gene that plays a role in the malformation of the penis during pregnancy and fetal development. The malformation is called hypospadias and it is when the opening of the urethra is not on the head of the penis in it’s usual spot, but lower on the penile shaft or even at the base of the penis.
Researchers from King’s College London, and Radboud University Njimegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands joined forces to carry out a large scale genome study.
This compared the genetic code of hundreds of boys, with and without the condition, to uncover genetic mutations which appeared more commonly in those with hypospadias.
They found that boys with a mutated version of the DGKK gene were 2.5 times more likely to be born with hypospadias.
This is fascinating research and hopefully it will lead to the ability to stop hypospadias from forming in the future.