SOX9 is located in a ∼2 Mb gene desert on chromosome 17 in humans and lncRNA ROCR is expressed from a locus 94 kb upstream of SOX9. Chromosomal rearrangements within this region are associated with CD, a skeletal malformation syndrome, and Pierre Robin sequence (PRS), a craniofacial disorder. Here, ROCR is linked to Pierre-Robin sequence.