IntroductionThis article is used to better understand preterm birth and the causes of preterm birth in relation to genetics and environmental effects. In addition, it will examine what a premature birth means for the growth and development of the affected child throughout their life. A normal human gestation period lasts approximately 40 weeks from the start of the last period until delivery. Any labor that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered preterm labor. Premature birth is the leading cause of infant death and long-term difficulties such as neurological damage and disability in children. Late preterm births refer to children born between the 34th week of pregnancy and sometime before the 37th week. More than 70% of infants considered premature are born during this period. (nichd)According to Zhou, premature birth is the leading cause of infant death worldwide, but the underlying causes remain essentially unknown (Zhou 1). A child's health at the time of birth is affected by many factors. These include, but are not limited to, the mother's maternal health, education, behavior, and exposure to environmental pollution (birth inequality). This is a huge problem that affects our understanding of the causes of preterm birth and, therefore, how we can respond to it. In general, premature births can be classified as spontaneous or medically indicated due to a maternal or fetal complication during pregnancy. (Medscape 2). Spontaneous preterm labor is difficult to study because it happens so quickly. Medically indicated preterm birth due to such complications can be studied using genetic and environmental causes. Genetic Causes Genetic causes include racial disparities and family inheritance...... middle of article ......r. Heterozygous patients (IL-4 (-590T) allele) have a higher risk factor for preterm birth (Medscape). IL-6 polymorphism, on the other hand, results in an increased amount of IL-6, which actually decreases the risk of premature birth when in the homozygous state. Genetic causes are not only seen in cytokines but also in non-cytokine genes. polymorphisms. MMPs are linked to the rupture of amniotic membranes. One study analyzed MMP levels in the amniotic membranes of African American women compared to white women when exposed to endotoxin stimuli. The membranes of African-American women produced a greater amount of MMP-9. MMP-9 polymorphisms may be more common in African American women than in white women, which could explain the advanced expression and also explain why African American women have higher levels of PPROM (Medscape).