A recent study published in Nature reveals that it may be possible to correct birth defects such as cleft palate, in utero. The experiment carried out on mice involved injecting Rapamycin into the mother in order to restore the functions of a protein called GSK-3 beta, which plays a role in the initial development of cleft palates.

Chemical genetics is a research method that uses small molecules to change the way proteins work, directly rather than indirectly by manipulating their genes.

"This is a really important baby step that opens the door to the development of fetal therapies," said pediatric craniofacial surgeon Michael Longaker, MD.

"There are tremendous implications to the idea of preventing conditions in unborn patients rather than trying to treat them after birth."