Finally, we find evidence of synergistic interactions between esco2, smc3, and cx43. Thus, the combination of our current and previous findings (Banerji et al., 2016) provide compelling evidence that Esco2, Smc3, and Cx43 function in a common pathway, and suggest that RBS may be a transcriptional malady similar to that of CdLS. The gene discussed is SMC3; the disease is Roberts-SC phocomelia syndrome.