Oral clefts are congenital anomalies with a complex origin, which appears to be determined both by environmental exposures and genetic influences. The purpose of this work is to explore gene-environment interactions in their etiology. This epidemiological project is based on a case-control study, conducted in France between 1998 and 2001 (240 cases, 236 controls), which incorporates a case-parents design. Recent statistical models available for the evaluation of gene-environment interactions are described. A specific model is used to distinguish the effects of the child's and maternal genotypes. . This project focuses on ADH1C gene and maternal alcohol consumption, MTHFR gene and maternal folate intake, and maternal occupational exposure to organic solvents and genes involved in the metabolism/detoxification processes such as CYP2E1, ADH1C, GSTM1 and GSTT1.
