Trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome) Arien Russell Ryan Tat

Where is Trisomy 21? Trisomy 21 is when there are three copies of chromosome 21 in the karyotype.

What are the symptoms of Down’s syndrome? (Physical) Some physical symptoms of Down’s syndrome may include eyes that slant upward, small ears that may fold over slightly at the top, small mouths that make the tongue appear large, and a flattened nasal bridge. Babies with Down’s syndrome have short necks and small hands with short fingers. Children and adults with Down’s syndrome are often short and have unusual looseness of the joints.

What are the symptoms of Down’s syndrome? (Mental and Physiological) Some physiological issues dealing with Down’s syndrome include congenital heart defects and intestinal malformations. Children with Down’s syndrome are at higher risk for visual and hearing impairments, thyroid problems and leukemia, and may have loss of hearing due to fluid in the middle ear, a nerve defect, or both. The mental issue associated with Down’s syndrome is mental retardation ranging from mild to moderate to severe. There is no way to predict mental development of a child with Down’s syndrome based on physical appearance.

How do you get Trisomy 21? An error occurs in cell division when an egg or a sperm cell keeps both copies of the #21 chromosome instead of just one copy.  Occasionally, the extra chromosome 21 is attached to another chromosome in the egg or sperm; this may result in what is called "translocation" Down’s syndrome. This is the only form of Down’s syndrome inherited from the parents.

Life with Down’s syndrome Kid’s life: Many kids with Down’s syndrome go to regular schools and may attend regular classes. Some need special classes to help them in areas where they have more trouble learning. Their parents work with teachers and others to come up with a plan for the best way for each child to learn. They play sports and participate in activities, such as music lessons or dance classes.

Life with Down’s syndrome Adults and Family Life Adults with Down’s syndrome typically live there live like normal people with various strengths and weaknesses. All though they are affected by the symptoms of Trisomy 21, they have similar lives to others in their age group. According to studies, families love and value a relative or a child with the disorder and maybe even more than a child without it. 2/3 of families coping with Down’s syndrome lead normal live while the others learn to cope with it successfully.

Treatment and Prevention There is no way to prevent Down’s syndrome. Everyone has the same odds for have a child with the disorder. There are many treatments for the symptoms of Down’s syndrome, however these treatments are for the medical conditions associated with the disorder. There is no cure for Down’s syndrome.

History In 1866 John L. Down first noticed similar features amongst a certain group of babies. His original name for this distinction was “mongoloids”, this name was deemed insulting and in the 1970s they changed the scientific name to Down’s syndrome. Also referred to as Down syndrome.

Famous People! Some famous people with Down syndrome include: Stephane Ginnsz- actor, in 1996 she was first actor with Down syndrome in the lead part of a motion picture. Judith Scott, artist

Works Cited http://www.down-syndrome.org/information/development/overview/ http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/down_syndrome.cfm http://www.ds-health.com/trisomy.htm http://downsyndrome.about.com/od/downsyndrometreatments/a/Treatmentess_ro.htm