KOREAN NET

Yonsei University professor Kim Sangwoo on March 25 explains the causes of congenital spina bifida to a news 

conference at the Ministry of Science and ICT at Government Complex-Sejong. (Yonhap News)

By Koh Hyunjeong

Domestic researchers in a world first have identified the causes of congenital spina bifida, a birth defect that causes difficulties in walking and other physical problems.

The Ministry of Science and ICT on March 27 said a research team led by Yonsei University professor Kim Sangwoo was behind the discovery.

This is expected to not only stimulate studies on genetic disease like finding the causes of congenital disease of the nervous system, but also lead to the development of prevention measures and predictable models for disease.

Spina bifida is a congenital defect in which an infant's spine and spinal cord do not close or develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine. One of every 3,000 newborns is believed to have the condition.

In severe cases, spinal meningocele occurs, something that condemns the patient to a lifetime of walking difficulties and sensory abnormalities.

Kim said, "Our finding is expected to help develop not only preventive measures for neural tube defects, but also research on complicated diseases such as autism, which is jointly affected by genetic mutations and environmental factors."

hjkoh@korea.kr