Prenatal Protein Intake Shapes Offspring's Facial Features

A new study in Nature Communications suggests that a mother's diet during pregnancy can significantly influence the facial features of her child due to the complex interplay between gene expression and protein intake, as evidenced by the mTORC1 pathway. High protein diets were found to lead to more prominent facial features, while lower protein diets resulted in smaller facial features in genetically modified mice and zebra fish. This research sheds light on the impact of maternal nutrition on fetal development and underscores the importance of maintaining a balanced diet during pregnancy.