Concomitant over-expression of myocardial Collagen-VI α2 and the guidance receptor Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) results in cardiac defects in both flies and mammals; adult Drosophila show a reduction in heart rate and arrhythmic contractions due to altered cell-substrate adhesion, and mice develop cardiac hypertrophy and atrial-septal defects [146]. The gene discussed is DSCAM; the disease is cardiac hypertrophy.