Down Syndrome

By Bethany Wilson!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thanks To The Following Sources:

Wikipedia the free encyclopedia,

Pyro-Energen,

Jessie Maynor’s Blog,

Google images,

Lea and Britney’s slideshow.