Microvillus atrophy is a condition that is found world-wide. It is a devastating disorder in which there is a total failure of absorption of all nutrients and death is inevitable unless intravenous feeding is commenced. The condition is inherited and starts shortly after birth with profuse watery diarrhoea. The cause is unknown and no treatments are available except liver and small bowel transplantation which has a high death rate. Identification of the cause for this condition will allow both antenatal diagnosis, possible future treatments and an insight into the normal function of the intestines.