Manner of Inheritance

Most cases of cri du chat syndrome are not inherited. The chromosomal deletion usually occurs as a random event during the formation of reproductive cells or in early fetal development. People with cri du chat syndrome typically have no history of the condition in their family. Only about 10% of the people with cri du chat syndrome inherit the chromosome with the deleted segment from an unaffected parent. The mutation is on chromosome 5. Cri du chat is not sex linked because it is on chromosome 5 and not on the x or y chromosome. Cri du chat syndrome is neither dominant or recessive. Cri du chat is polygenetic because multiple genes from chromosome 5 is deleted.