Down Syndrome Essay, Research Paper

Down SyndromeIntroduction What is down syndrome, is it a birth defect or is it a disease. Well actually it’s a genetic disorder caused by the duplication of all or parts of the 21st chromosomes. In our society is it fair to be treated differently just because you have genetic disorder. What causes them to be so different. Is it the way they look or is it the way they talk. What can a society do to those that are affected by this disorder. Is it possible to cure this disorder? As we further go this report we will research these questions, which will help us, understand all of the concepts of down syndrome.What Causes Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome is usually caused by an error in cell division called nondisjunction. However two other types of chromosomal abnormalities are mosaicism and translocation are also related to down syndrome. In down syndrome only one cell has one 21st chromosome and the other has three 21st chromosomes. This happens because the chromosomes, in either the sperm or the egg fail to separate. As the embryo develops the extra chromosomes is replicated in every cell of the body. This faulty cell division is responsible for 95% of all cases of down syndrome. Mosaicism occurs when nondisjunction of the 21st chromosome takes place in the one of the cell division after the egg is fertilized. When this happens there is a mixture of two types of cells some containing 46 chromosomes and some containing 47. The cell that has 47 chromosomes has an extra 21st chromosome, which causes down syndrome. Mosaicism is rare and is only responsible for about 2% of down syndrome. On the other hand translocation is a different type of chromosomal problem that is responsible for the rest of the cases. Translocation happens when the 21st chromosome breaks and joins to another chromosome, this happens in cell division. The odd thing about this is that there are still 46 chromosomes in total. It is just the extra part of the 21st chromosome that causes down syndrome. Down syndrome is often referred to as trisomy 21 because tri means three and somy referrers to chromosome. The genes in our body make up both enzymes and proteins, and to many genes lead to too many enzymes and proteins. This causes abnormal metabolism and development. The Physical Appearance and side affects of Down Syndrome With down syndrome an appearance is very different from most normal people. They are often looked at as mongloid idiots. They have slanted eyes, a short thick neck, an open mouth, and small ears. They have also been known to have dry skin and hair, and a short statue. With this disease there are even more defects such as a low immunity, low muscle tone, heart defects, poor eyesight and hearing and development delays. They are also more likely to develop Hypothyroidism, Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, but perhaps the worst is that they have a 75% better chance of getting Leukemia. How Often Does It Occur, Can It Be Cured? Down Syndrome can come from your mother or your father. It can affect people of all races and economic levels. 1 out of 800 people get this disease. Women at the age of 35 or older have an increased risk of having a child with down syndrome. A 35-year-old woman has a 1 out of 400 chance of conceiving a child with down syndrome and this chance increases gradually as it can become 1 out of 110 by the age of 40. At the age of 45 the incidence becomes approximately 1 out of 35. Since many couples have decided not to have children in the early years and want to have them, as they get older, the occurrence of down syndrome is more common. Down syndrome can’t be cured. It can’t be cured because if it’s in your genetic code, it’s simply impossible to change it. However it can be diagnosed with a learning process, not medicine. The diagnoses of the learning process is highly effective because it teaches the ways of everyday life.

How Does Down Syndrome Affect A Person’s Development? Most people with down syndrome have some level of mental retardation. They are also a lot slower and not as quick as your everyday kid. However children with down syndrome learn to sit, walk, play, and toilet train and most activities that a normal kid can but it takes longer for them to learn these everyday activities. The speech is often delayed but hearing is a bigger concern. Early treatment services help children with down syndrome develop to their full potential. Good educational programs, environment and medical care can allow a victim of down syndrome achieve their goal in life. People with down syndrome can live ordinary lives, but usually meet death at the age of 55.How can Down Syndrome be Detected? You can detect down syndrome before birth by using prenatal tests. There are two types of procedures available. The first one is called a screening test; it estimates the risk of the fetus having down syndrome. The two most commonly used screening tests are the triple screen and the alpha-fetoprotein plus. These tests measure quantities of numerous substances in the blood. The second test is called the diagnostic test. Its simply tests whether or not the fetus has the disease by looking at the genetic code. Another way that it can be detected is when the child starts to act differently than a normal child. You can also look at the physical features to help determine if it has conceived the disease or not.Other Interesting Facts- The chances of having two children with down syndrome is 1 out of 100- There are laws stating that people with down syndrome will be granted equal protections under federal laws – People with down syndrome have the same emotions and needs as normal people do – There have been cases of people living beyond 70 who were effected by down syndrome Conclusion As you can see down syndrome is a very serious issue. Raising a child this way can be very difficult. In more ways than one down syndrome is difficult for the child to grow up with as he/she will be treated differently than others and more likely be made fun of. As a society we must learn to cope with this disease and help support the victims with down syndrome.