The first network described to play an anterior-specific role in the developing palate involves the homeobox transcription factor Msx1. Mutations in the human MSX1 gene have been linked to isolated non-syndromic cleft palate (Vastardis et al., 1996; Lidral et al., 1998; Van den Boogaard et al., 2000; Suzuki et al., 2004; Tongkobpetch et al., 2006; Otero et al., 2007). This evidence concerns the gene MSX1 and cleft palate.