Genetics & Molecular Biology13 February 2026
Missing Blueprints: The Genetics of Non-syndromic Hypodontia
Source PublicationCellular and Molecular Biology
Primary AuthorsAreej Quran, Ahmed Maslat, Saied Jaradat et al.
Imagine you are the foreman on a busy construction site. You have a stack of blueprints for a row of identical terrace houses. Everything proceeds according to plan—foundation, walls, roof—until you reach house number four. You look at the sheet where the front window should be. It is blank. A printing error.
You cannot build what isn't there. So, you simply build a solid wall instead. The house stands, functional and sturdy, but it lacks that one feature.
This is exactly what happens in the human jaw during development. Your body possesses a set of master architectural plans—your DNA. Specific sections of this plan instruct your cells to construct molars, canines, and incisors. But sometimes, the file gets corrupted. When this happens without any other health issues involved, doctors call it **non-syndromic hypodontia**. It is the scientific term for having a few missing teeth because the genetic instructions simply never arrived.
In a recent study, scientists in Jordan wanted to check the spelling of these instructions. They recruited 50 individuals who were missing teeth to see if their genetic blueprints contained errors. They zoomed in on two specific 'architect' genes: PAX9 and MSX1.
Think of PAX9 as the architect drawing the floor plan, and MSX1 as the engineer approving the materials. If PAX9 has a typo, the foundation might not get poured. If MSX1 sends the wrong memo, the builders might pack up early.
The researchers used a technique called Sanger sequencing. This acts like a meticulous spell-checker that reads the DNA code letter by letter. They were looking for variants—places where the genetic letters (A, C, T, G) were swapped or changed.
The spell-check flagged several issues. In the MSX1 gene, they found a specific change associated with missing upper lateral incisors—the teeth right next to your front two. This suggests a link. If the code is tweaked here, that specific tooth is the most likely to vanish.
However, genetics is rarely simple. Finding a typo does not always mean the blueprint is ruined. Some typos are just different fonts—they look different but mean the same thing.
The study detected multiple variants, but the analysis suggests many of these are likely 'benign polymorphisms'. This means the genetic code was different from the average person's, but probably not broken enough to cause the missing teeth on its own. It is a difference, not a defect.
While the study confirmed that these Jordanian patients carry unique genetic signatures, it stopped short of labelling these specific variants as the definitive culprit. The builders are still investigating. We know the window is missing, and we know the blueprint looks a bit odd, but we need to examine more construction sites to be sure the two are connected.
You cannot build what isn't there. So, you simply build a solid wall instead. The house stands, functional and sturdy, but it lacks that one feature.
This is exactly what happens in the human jaw during development. Your body possesses a set of master architectural plans—your DNA. Specific sections of this plan instruct your cells to construct molars, canines, and incisors. But sometimes, the file gets corrupted. When this happens without any other health issues involved, doctors call it **non-syndromic hypodontia**. It is the scientific term for having a few missing teeth because the genetic instructions simply never arrived.
Deciphering the genetics of non-syndromic hypodontia
In a recent study, scientists in Jordan wanted to check the spelling of these instructions. They recruited 50 individuals who were missing teeth to see if their genetic blueprints contained errors. They zoomed in on two specific 'architect' genes: PAX9 and MSX1.
Think of PAX9 as the architect drawing the floor plan, and MSX1 as the engineer approving the materials. If PAX9 has a typo, the foundation might not get poured. If MSX1 sends the wrong memo, the builders might pack up early.
The researchers used a technique called Sanger sequencing. This acts like a meticulous spell-checker that reads the DNA code letter by letter. They were looking for variants—places where the genetic letters (A, C, T, G) were swapped or changed.
The spell-check flagged several issues. In the MSX1 gene, they found a specific change associated with missing upper lateral incisors—the teeth right next to your front two. This suggests a link. If the code is tweaked here, that specific tooth is the most likely to vanish.
However, genetics is rarely simple. Finding a typo does not always mean the blueprint is ruined. Some typos are just different fonts—they look different but mean the same thing.
The study detected multiple variants, but the analysis suggests many of these are likely 'benign polymorphisms'. This means the genetic code was different from the average person's, but probably not broken enough to cause the missing teeth on its own. It is a difference, not a defect.
While the study confirmed that these Jordanian patients carry unique genetic signatures, it stopped short of labelling these specific variants as the definitive culprit. The builders are still investigating. We know the window is missing, and we know the blueprint looks a bit odd, but we need to examine more construction sites to be sure the two are connected.
Cite this Article (Harvard Style)
Areej Quran et al. (2026). 'Screening for MSX1 and PAX9 gene variants among hypodontia patients in the Jordanian population.'. Cellular and Molecular Biology. Available at: https://doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2025.72.1.6