Identification and Characterization of Bone-related Genetic Variants in Families
Identification and Characterization of Bone-related Genetic Variants in Families
Identify novel genetic variants causing skeletal dysplasia in Qatari populations and to
 additionally develop an understanding of how those variants influence skeletal biology at a
 molecular and cellular level.
To identify novel genetic variants causing skeletal dysplasia in Qatari populations and to
 additionally develop an understanding of how those variants influence skeletal biology at a
 molecular and cellular level.

 Achieving this goal will be split into two aims:

 -  Aim 1: Perform a clinical characterization of a study group of patients with various
 forms of skeletal dysplasia seen in pediatric orthopedics clinic at Hamad Medical
 center, HMC. This will be followed by whole exome or genome sequencing and analysis to
 search for novel pathogenic variants responsible for the clinical presentation of these
 patients

 -  Aim 2: The genes and variants identified in Aim 1 will be characterized to determine
 their effects on osteoblast and chondrocyte differentiation and function.

 All the subjects will be recruited from the pool of patients seen by the Pediatric Orthopedic
 Consultants at the Bone and Joint Institute. Subjects will be coming to the clinic for their
 standard care. They will be identified during that visit as candidates for the study. They
 will then be told about the study by their physicians. If a patient is interested in
 participation, the physician will introduce the CRC to him/her who will proceed with the
 consent process.

 Consenting and the study procedures might be performed during that same visit if time allows,
 or in a new scheduled visit arranged at that time.

 This research will also involve a pedigree creation. Secondary subjects (family members or
 relatives) will be told about the study by the research subject. The secondary subject will
 be able to read a copy of the consent form, think of his participation, and if interested
 they will be told to contact the Investigators. A suitable time will then be arranged, by an
 appropriate member of the research team, for the secondary subject to visit the clinic in
 order to proceed with the consent process and the study procedures.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. All included individuals must provide informed consent

 2. Patients identified to have a skeletal dysplasia

 3. All ethnic backgrounds are acceptable

 4. Disease must be genetic with no evident environmental cause.

 5. Evidence of Mendelian Transmission determined by fulfilling one of the following
 criteria:

 1. Multiple affected family members (at least first-degree relative with disease)

 2. History of consanguinity

 3. Severe disease in newborn in the absence of family history

 4. Syndromic disease in single individuals

 5. Congenital abnormality affecting major organ system(s)

 6. Mendelianized extremes of common disease (e.g. bilateral developmental dysplasia
 of the hip)

 6. All ages will be included

 7. Rare diseases or rare forms of known diseases

 8. Unaffected family members or relatives of the individual with the primary syndrome

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Individuals who do not consent will not be included

 2. Individuals for which a molecular diagnosis has already been established by
 alternative method (e.g. karyotype or known gene mutation)

 3. Diseases for which an environmental factor is most likely the cause (e.g. Traumatic
 bone injury or Rickets)

 4. Diseases of which late age of onset rule out Mendelian transmission

 5. Common Diseases for which late age of onset rule out Mendelian transmission
 (e.g.Osteoporosis)