| What is Down's Syndrome | | | | parent. In an individual with Down's syndrome he or she |
| Down's syndrome is defined as a disease that comes | | | | will have an overall number of 47 chromosomes or |
| about because of a genetic abnormality that | | | | essentially 1 more chromosome than is expected. This |
| negatively affects the mental capabilities and physical | | | | chromosomal abnormality manifests because of an |
| features of an affected person. Individuals with this | | | | extra copy of the 21st chromosome. The effect of |
| condition quite often experience varying degrees of | | | | the extra copy will vary among affected people. |
| medical and physical issues. Some people with the | | | | The condition cannot be prevented and is said to be a |
| disease are able to successfully lead moderately | | | | randomly occurring event. However women over the |
| regular lives while others need persistent medical care. | | | | age of 35 are at an increased risk of conceiving a |
| It affects 1 in 800 newborns and is said to be more | | | | child with Down syndrome. The risk for different age |
| common with older mothers. The disease cannot be | | | | groups are listed below:o Women who are 25 years |
| prevented, however it can be discovered in utero, | | | | of age will typically have a 1in 1,250 chance of having a |
| before the baby is born. There is still much | | | | Down's baby.o Women who are 30 years of age will |
| controversy in relation to the ramifications of genetic | | | | normally have. 1 in 1000 chance of having a Down's |
| testing for Down'ssyndrome. It has been observed that | | | | baby.o Women who are 35 years of age will normally |
| an estimated 90-93% of pregnancies with a Down's | | | | have 1in 400 chance of having a Down's baby.o |
| babies were aborted once this was identified through | | | | Women who are 40 years of age will typically have 1 |
| various forms of genetic testing methods. | | | | in 100 chance of having a Down's baby.o Women who |
| The outlook for children with Down's syndrome has | | | | are 45 years of age will normally have. 1 in 30 chance |
| significantly improved in recent years. The regular life | | | | of having a Down's baby. |
| span for an individual with Down's syndrome was 25 | | | | The odds of conceiving a child with Down's Syndrome |
| years old in the 1980's it has now risen to 49 years of | | | | may also be associated with a familial genetic |
| age in present times. People with the disease will | | | | irregularity. A person who has a balanced translocation |
| usually be infertile especially males who are only | | | | will not show any signs of down syndrome but will |
| partially fertile in extremely rare instances. Most children | | | | have an elveated risk of conceiving a child with |
| with Down's syndrome will also experience noticeably | | | | translocation Down syndrome. The estimated risk is 1 |
| reduced cognitive abilities. However, with needed | | | | in 5 for the female carrier and 1 in 50 for a male |
| medical intervention, family support and vocational | | | | carrier. In some cases where there is no unattached |
| training the child with down syndrome can learn to | | | | copy of chromosome 21 the carrier's offspring will all |
| overcome, to some extent, his or her disabilities. | | | | have Down's Syndrome. The affected parent is |
| What Causes Down's Syndrome | | | | therefore said to be a translocation carrier. This sort of |
| The disease as mentioned before is caused by a | | | | Down's syndrome is said to occur in 2-3% of all |
| genetic irregularity. A normal person will have 46 | | | | Down's syndrome cases. |
| chromosomes, 23 of which will be inherited from either | | | | |