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