Small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO1) haploinsufficiency results in cleft lip and palate in animal models. However, 110 Studies have linked SUMO1 to non-syndromic cleft lip with Or Without Cleft palate (NSCLP) in humans. In the present Study, we investigated the potential association between SUMO1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and risk for human NSCLP. From 181 patients and 162 healthy controls, we found statistically significant cot-relations between a 4-SNP SUMO1 haplotype and NSCLP. These data are the first to suggest a role for SUMO I gene variation ill human NSCLP development. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.