This prediction was recently supported by functional studies demonstrating increased FGF9 expression and more open chromatin in neural crest cells derived from the affected individual (Korona D, Hashimoto AS, Pei Y, Calpena E, Sloane-Stanley J, Riva SG, Schwessinger R, Forzano F, Chintawar S, Duggal G, Wall SA, Hughes JR, Twigg SRF, Wilkie AOM: Evaluating the pathogenic significance of unique chromosomal variants in craniosynostosis using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse modelling, submitted). The gene discussed is FGF9; the disease is infectious otitis media.