This book is in essence a collection of essays which are state of the art in their respective areas of knowledge. They inform the reader of all sorts of mechanistic considerations when developing understanding of issues surrounding the origins of congenital abnormalities. These chapters are written by world renown authorities in this area of science and represent a wide range of expertise from a clinician perspective, through to genetic mechanisms. Unlike some books which take a formal textual, somewhat plodding way through pathophysiology here instead we have cut through chapters in which the student , or scientist or medic is lead to understand just how complex the origins can be via examples from different parts of the body. With the erudite chapters are relevant tables and other diagrams to help clarify the text . These chapters represent a starter text for the stimulus for further knowledge of what is an increasingly important area of human health.