Med25 (mediator complex subunit 25) is a craniofacial transcription factor associated with cleft palate in humans and zebrafish (Nakamura et al., 2011; Mork and Crump, 2015); a precursor of mag (myelin-associated glycoprotein) was also associated with the parallel evolution of the thick-lipped phenotype in Midas cichlids based on differential expression among morphs (Manousaki et al., 2013). Here, MED25 is linked to cleft palate.