Objective: To detect potential mutation in a Chinese pedigree affected with split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM).
Methods: The patients were screened for genome-wide copy number variations with single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray. Copy number variations were verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.
Results: There were 3 SHFM patients from three generations, which conformed to an autosomal dominant inheritance. SNP microarray assay revealed that all patients have carried a 0.34 Mb duplication in 10q24.31-q24.32 (102 993 649-103 333 271) encompassing the BTRC and DPCD genes. The result was verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, confirming that the duplication has co-segregated with the SHFM phenotype in the pedigree.
Conclusion: The 10q24.31-q24.32 duplication probably underlies the pathogenesis of SHFM in this pedigree. Tiny copy number variations can result in diseases featuring autosomal dominant inheritance.