- The processes of development still hold many mysteries.
- We're working to prevent birth defects and find treatments.
- Sought: genetic and environmental causes of birth defects.
Congenital heart defects are among the most common birth defects, affecting nearly 1 out of 100 babies in the United States. Some heart defects are mild, while others can be life-threatening. Other common birth defects include cleft lip/palate, Down syndrome and spina bifida (open spine), affecting about 1 in 700, 1 in 800 and 1 in 2,500 babies respectively.
