Let's talk about Cleft Chin & Genetics

How it works

When your chin is forming, the left and right halves of the lower jaw start out as two bones, then join in infancy. But if you have a cleft chin, your jawbone might still have a little gap in the middle.

The genetic link

So far, researchers have identified 38 genetic markers that may affect whether or not you have a cleft chin. Many of these markers are located in or near genes that influence facial bone and skull growth.

Did you know?

Some researchers think our early ancestors developed chins after they began cooking with fire around a million years ago. Cooking made food softer and easier to chew, so over time, humans lost their larger teeth and mouths. The bottom of the jawbone didn’t shrink as much, leaving us with a chin that sticks out from the rest of the face.

Explore more

Chin up! 23andMe’s Health + Ancestry Service can give you some insight into your facial features. Grab one of our kits, send us some spit, and find out whether you’re likely to have a cleft chin based on genetics and other factors.

References

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Blake JA et al. (2014). “The Mouse Genome Database: integration of and access to knowledge about the laboratory mouse.” Nucleic Acids Res. 42:D810–D817.

Croft D et al. (2011). “Reactome: a database of reactions, pathways and biological processes.” Nucleic Acids Res. 39:D691–D697.

Gould SJ and Lewontin RC. (1979). “The spandrels of San Marco and the Panglossian paradigm: a critique of the adaptationist programme.” Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 205(1161):581-598.

Kanehisa M et al. (2012). “KEGG for integration and interpretation of large-scale molecular data sets.” Nucleic Acids Res. 40:D109–D114.

Pampush JD and Daegling DJ. (2016). “The enduring puzzle of the human chin.” Evol Anthropol. 25(1):20-35.

Pampush JD. (2015). “Selection played a role in the evolution of the human chin.” J Hum Evol. 82:127-136.

Pers TH et al. (2015). “Biological interpretation of genome-wide association studies using predicted gene functions.” Nat Commun. 6:5890.

Schwartz JH and Tattersall I. (2000). “The human chin revisited: what is it and who has it?” 38(3):367-409.