Trisomy 21 is a condition in which a child is born with an extra chromosome in pair 21 Quizlet

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

• Intellectual disabilities
• When to see a doctor
• From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
• Is it inherited?
• Risk factors
• Complications
• Life expectancy
• Which describes the condition in which a child is born with an extra 21st chromosome?
• What does an extra 21 chromosome do?
• Why is it called trisomy 21?
• What is the source of the extra chromosome 21 in an individual with Down syndrome?

Topic Resources

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder in which a person has an extra copy of a chromosome called chromosome 21. This extra chromosome causes many health problems.

• Down syndrome is a disorder that a baby is born with—doctors can test for it during pregnancy or diagnose it after the baby is born

• Doctors suspect Down syndrome based on how the baby looks, but they do a blood test to look at the baby's chromosomes to know for sure

• People with Down syndrome have a different physical appearance and mental difficulties

• People with Down syndrome are also likely to have problems with certain organs, such as their heart, eyes, ears, and digestive system, and with their blood

• Special treatments beginning early in life can help children learn as much as they can

• People with Down syndrome usually live into adulthood but don't live as long as other people

Down syndrome is caused by abnormalities in one of the chromosomes. People with Down syndrome have an extra 21st chromosome. Instead of having 2 of these chromosomes, people with Down syndrome have 3. (Down syndrome is also called trisomy 21, and the word "trisomy" means having 3 of one kind of chromosome.)

About 1 in 700 babies has Down syndrome. You have a higher chance of having a baby with Down syndrome if:

• You're an older mother—over age 35

• Down syndrome runs in your family

• You have already had a child with Down syndrome

Down syndrome affects both physical and mental development. Some children have mild symptoms. Others can have more severe symptoms.

Physical characteristics of babies with Down syndrome can include:

• Limp muscles

• Short height

• A small head and flattened face

• A short neck

• A broad face with slanted eyes

• Tiny white spots on the colored part of the eyes

• Sometimes, an unusually large tongue

• Extra skin at the back of the neck (nuchal folds)

• Low, small ears

• Small hands with a single crease across the palms of the hands

• Pinky fingers that curve inward

Mental, developmental, and learning characteristics can include:

• Lower IQ

• Learning delays

Children and adults with Down syndrome are more likely to be overweight and to have:

• Heart defects

• Digestion problems

• Hearing loss and ear infections

• Vision problems

• Thyroid problems

• Immune system problems

• Spine problems

Before your baby is born:

After your baby is born:

• Doctors may suspect Down syndrome based on how your baby looks

• To tell for sure, doctors will do a blood test to look for an extra chromosome

• Doctors may then do other tests to see if Down syndrome is causing other health problems, such as heart, digestion, vision, or hearing problems

Down syndrome can’t be cured. But doctors and other members of the health care team will treat any health problems related to Down syndrome, including:

• Surgery to fix heart or digestive problems

• Medicine to help with thyroid problems

• Social support for you and your family

• Educational programs for your child

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Overview

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material causes the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome.

Down syndrome varies in severity among individuals, causing lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays. It's the most common genetic chromosomal disorder and cause of learning disabilities in children. It also commonly causes other medical abnormalities, including heart and gastrointestinal disorders.

Better understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions can greatly increase the quality of life for children and adults with this disorder and help them live fulfilling lives.

Symptoms

Each person with Down syndrome is an individual — intellectual and developmental problems may be mild, moderate or severe. Some people are healthy while others have significant health problems such as serious heart defects.

Children and adults with Down syndrome have distinct facial features. Though not all people with Down syndrome have the same features, some of the more common features include:

• Flattened face
• Small head
• Short neck
• Protruding tongue
• Upward slanting eye lids (palpebral fissures)
• Unusually shaped or small ears
• Poor muscle tone
• Broad, short hands with a single crease in the palm
• Relatively short fingers and small hands and feet
• Excessive flexibility
• Tiny white spots on the colored part (iris) of the eye called Brushfield's spots
• Short height

Infants with Down syndrome may be average size, but typically they grow slowly and remain shorter than other children the same age.

Intellectual disabilities

Most children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Language is delayed, and both short and long-term memory is affected.

When to see a doctor

Children with Down syndrome usually are diagnosed before or at birth. However, if you have any questions regarding your pregnancy or your child's growth and development, talk with your doctor.

Causes

Human cells normally contain 23 pairs of chromosomes. One chromosome in each pair comes from your father, the other from your mother.

Down syndrome results when abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21 occurs. These cell division abnormalities result in an extra partial or full chromosome 21. This extra genetic material is responsible for the characteristic features and developmental problems of Down syndrome. Any one of three genetic variations can cause Down syndrome:

• Trisomy 21. About 95 percent of the time, Down syndrome is caused by trisomy 21 — the person has three copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two copies, in all cells. This is caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell.
• Mosaic Down syndrome. In this rare form of Down syndrome, a person has only some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This mosaic of normal and abnormal cells is caused by abnormal cell division after fertilization.
• Translocation Down syndrome. Down syndrome can also occur when a portion of chromosome 21 becomes attached (translocated) onto another chromosome, before or at conception. These children have the usual two copies of chromosome 21, but they also have additional genetic material from chromosome 21 attached to another chromosome.

There are no known behavioral or environmental factors that cause Down syndrome.

Is it inherited?

Most of the time, Down syndrome isn't inherited. It's caused by a mistake in cell division during early development of the fetus.

Translocation Down syndrome can be passed from parent to child. However, only about 3 to 4 percent of children with Down syndrome have translocation and only some of them inherited it from one of their parents.

When balanced translocations are inherited, the mother or father has some rearranged genetic material from chromosome 21 on another chromosome, but no extra genetic material. This means he or she has no signs or symptoms of Down syndrome, but can pass an unbalanced translocation on to children, causing Down syndrome in the children.

Risk factors

Some parents have a greater risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. Risk factors include:

• Advancing maternal age. A woman's chances of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome increase with age because older eggs have a greater risk of improper chromosome division. A woman's risk of conceiving a child with Down syndrome increases after 35 years of age. However, most children with Down syndrome are born to women under age 35 because younger women have far more babies.
• Being carriers of the genetic translocation for Down syndrome. Both men and women can pass the genetic translocation for Down syndrome on to their children.
• Having had one child with Down syndrome. Parents who have one child with Down syndrome and parents who have a translocation themselves are at an increased risk of having another child with Down syndrome. A genetic counselor can help parents assess the risk of having a second child with Down syndrome.

Complications

People with Down syndrome can have a variety of complications, some of which become more prominent as they get older. These complications can include:

• Heart defects. About half the children with Down syndrome are born with some type of congenital heart defect. These heart problems can be life-threatening and may require surgery in early infancy.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) defects. GI abnormalities occur in some children with Down syndrome and may include abnormalities of the intestines, esophagus, trachea and anus. The risk of developing digestive problems, such as GI blockage, heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux) or celiac disease, may be increased.
• Immune disorders. Because of abnormalities in their immune systems, people with Down syndrome are at increased risk of developing autoimmune disorders, some forms of cancer, and infectious diseases, such as pneumonia.
• Sleep apnea. Because of soft tissue and skeletal changes that lead to the obstruction of their airways, children and adults with Down syndrome are at greater risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
• Obesity. People with Down syndrome have a greater tendency to be obese compared with the general population.
• Spinal problems. Some people with Down syndrome may have a misalignment of the top two vertebrae in the neck (atlantoaxial instability). This condition puts them at risk of serious injury to the spinal cord from overextension of the neck.
• Leukemia. Young children with Down syndrome have an increased risk of leukemia.
• Dementia. People with Down syndrome have a greatly increased risk of dementia — signs and symptoms may begin around age 50. Having Down syndrome also increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
• Other problems. Down syndrome may also be associated with other health conditions, including endocrine problems, dental problems, seizures, ear infections, and hearing and vision problems.

For people with Down syndrome, getting routine medical care and treating issues when needed can help with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Life expectancy

Life spans have increased dramatically for people with Down syndrome. Today, someone with Down syndrome can expect to live more than 60 years, depending on the severity of health problems.

Prevention

There's no way to prevent Down syndrome. If you're at high risk of having a child with Down syndrome or you already have one child with Down syndrome, you may want to consult a genetic counselor before becoming pregnant.

A genetic counselor can help you understand your chances of having a child with Down syndrome. He or she can also explain the prenatal tests that are available and help explain the pros and cons of testing.

Which describes the condition in which a child is born with an extra 21st chromosome?

What does an extra 21 chromosome do?

Why is it called trisomy 21?

What is the source of the extra chromosome 21 in an individual with Down syndrome?