Down Syndrome in Children

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Down Syndrome in Children Down syndrome is one of the most common and easily recognized genetic disorders. It is caused by abnormal cell division that involves the 21st chromosome pair of the 23 pairs of chromosome found in all normal human cells. There are three types of these abnormalities, which are non-disjunction, translocation, and mosaicism. Ninety five percent of children born with Down syndrome are a non-disjunction type which is three rather than two chromosome 21s. About three to four percent of cases are because of translocation which is chromosome 21 detaches and attaches to another chromosome. Mosaicism accounts for only one to two percent of births, which is an abnormal cell division with the normal 46 chromosomes while the others have 47 creating a mosaic of normal and abnormal cells (Encarta.p1). The presence of Down syndrome in children is also due to the age of the mother. A twenty five year old woman' s chance of having a baby with Down syndrome is 1 in 1,250, but a woman who is thirty five it's 1 in 378 and a woman 45 it's1 in 30 (Encarta.p2). Diana Danilenko-Dixon, M.D. states "As a woman's eggs age, there is a greater propensity for chromosomes to divide improperly". Although researchers are studying ways to detect improper cell division, there isn't a test yet to the likelihood of Down syndrome before conception (Exceptional children p173). One recent study noted that a rise in children born with Down syndrome between 1990 and 1995 because of the old maternal age. The age of the father does not seem to be a factor. When a woman becomes pregnant, there are screening tests that can be performed to detect Down syndrome beginning at the tenth week of gestation. Of course the test isn't 100% accurate s... ... middle of paper ... ...y the last day; just what the teacher's goal been. Life Goes On was a television show that showed a child with Down syndrome. Corky was a child with Down syndrome. He was in high school with his non-disabled peers. The show didn't reflect too much on Corky's condition. There does not seem to be a big spot light on children with Down syndrome like there is with other children with disorders. Although we as a society recognize it as a problem and are able to identify it early on so we can treat it. Bibliography: work Cited "Down Syndrome," Microsoft. Encarta. Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com/find/concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=0155F000 The Council for Exceptional Children. Vol. 64, Number 1. Fall 1997 p. 167-180 Health Reference Series. Genetic Disorders Source book. Vol. 13, 1996. Omnigrahic Inc.

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