Down Syndrome

1. Down Syndrome By Bethany Wilson!

2. What Is Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder. People who are born with Down Syndrome look distinctively different, are shorter and have learning difficulties. They also have other problems that can not necessarily be seen from the outside, such as heart problems.

3. How Does Down Syndrome Happen? Down Syndrome happens at the time of conception. It becomes more likely to happen, the older the mother is. At the age of 40 there is approximately 0.5% chances of her giving birth to a child with Down Syndrome. The chances rise rapidly between the mother’s age of 40 and 50. At 50 years of age, about 8% of children born will have the disorder. Women over the age of thirty are at significant risk. Overall, about 0.046% of babies today are born with Down Syndrome.

4. How Does It Relate To Genetics? Generally, Down Syndrome is not inherited. Down Syndrome occurs when there is all or part of a third chromosome 21. In every cell in the human body, there are 23 pairs of chromosomes which makes 46. However, when Down Syndrome occurs, there are 47 chromosomes. Down Syndrome is also called trisomy 21. This is because there are 3 copies of the chromosome 21.The severity of physical and intellectual disability caused by the extra chromosome will vary a lot. This will depend on the genetics of their parents and pure chance.

5. Facts • The average life span of a person with Down Syndrome is 56. • Scientists think chromosome 21 contains between 300 - 400 genes. • On average, the IQ of young adults with Down Syndrome is 50, normal children have an IQ of approximately 100. • Down Syndrome was named in 1866.

6. Thanks To The Following Sources: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia, Pyro-Energen, Jessie Maynor’s Blog, Google images, Lea and Britney’s slideshow.