It is a powerful mitogen and it seems to play a key role in the healing response of the gastrointestinal tract.[17] The recognition that various important growth factors, the EGF among them, regulate and maintain the barrier function of colonic mucosa, decrease mucosal permeability and promote tissue repair stimulated the investigation of the therapeutic role of growth factors in inflammatory bowel disease.[18]. The gene discussed is EGF; the disease is inflammatory bowel disease.