Cockayne syndrome

Cockayne syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a host of developmental problems including extremely short stature, premature aging, and extreme sensitivity to sunlight.  The genetic defects responsible for this condition map to two genes, CSA and CSB, which code for proteins that are elongation factors.  It is not yet known how the molecular defects in CSA and CSB give rise to the distinguishing clinical features of this disease.