How to understand Down syndrome?
How to understand Down syndrome?
Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate. People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects.
What animals have Down syndrome?
Whether or not animals can have down syndrome requires much research and understanding of the disease itself. Although animals, also are prone to suffer from genetic disorders, and they do share genetic similarity to their human counterparts, not all animals can have down syndrome.
Is Down syndrome a disease or a disorder?
Down syndrome, also called Down’s syndrome, trisomy 21, or (formerly) mongolism, congenital disorder caused by the presence in the human genome of extra genetic material from chromosome 21. The affected individual may inherit an extra part of chromosome 21 or an entire extra copy of chromosome 21, a condition known as trisomy 21.
What can Down syndrome be caused by?
Down syndrome can be caused by one of three types of abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21. Trisomy 21 – More than 90% of Down syndrome cases are caused by trisomy 21. An extra chromosome (chromosome 21) originates in the development of either the sperm or the egg.
Can Down Syndrome run in the family?
●A woman of any age can have a baby with Down syndrome, but the chance gets higher as a woman gets older. ●Down syndrome usually does not run in families, but you should inform your doctor or nurse if you or your partner has a family member with Down syndrome.
Do you have Down syndrome?
Down Syndrome. You have probably seen people who have Down syndrome. They have certain physical features, such as a flatter face and upward slanting eyes. They may have medical problems, too, such as heart defects.