A Description of Down Syndrome as a Chromosome Abnormality’s Presence in All Ethnicity

Down Syndrome, a chromosome abnormality is present in all ethnicity, social economic classes, and gender. In Britannica.com, Down Syndrome is defined as a "congenital disorder by an extra chromosome on the chromosome 21 pair." Although there are many theories that have been forwarded for the cause of chromosome abnormalities, there is no known research for the cause of Down Syndrome. There are three main types of chromosome abnormalities in Down Syndrome. They are Trisomy 21, Mosaic Down Syndrome, and Translocation Down Syndrome. All three types have similar characteristics and it is known that children with Down Syndrome require more time to master skills such as walking and talking. Services, however, are being provided to educate and help children with this disability.

In 1866, John Langdon Down wrote an essay describing a particular group of children that had similar features with mental retardation. He stated that "these children looked liked people from Mongolia," therefore referring to them as Mongoloids. However, in the early 1960s, Asian researchers were insulted by the term and changed it to "Down's Syndrome." Although the term Down's Syndrome is still used in the United Kingdom and some places in Europe, in 1970 it was changed to "Down Syndrome." Human cells normally have 46 chromosomes and divide in two ways. The first ordinary cell division is the baby's development and is called "mitosis." In this method, one cell splits into two. The second method of cell division is called "meiosis" and this, similar to the mitosis method, involves one cell to split into two. This method, however, occurs in the ovaries and testicles.

The most common type of Down Syndrome is Trisomy 21. This type affects about 90 to 95 percent of the people with Down Syndrome. This type of syndrome takes place prior to conception and occurs when chromosome 21 does not split. This abnormal gamete then joins with a normal gamete at conception and forms a fertilized egg with three #21 chromosomes. Another type of Down Syndrome is Mosaic Down Syndrome and affects two to five percent of the cases of Down Syndrome. Mosaic Down Syndrome occurs when one of the 21st chromosomes was lost or duplicated during fertilization. The last type of Down Syndrome is known as Translocation Down Syndrome. It is also known to be the least common form of the syndrome. Similar to Trisomy 21, Translocation Down Syndrome has three #21 chromosomes. However, instead of being separated, one of the 21 chromosomes attaches to another chromosome. There are also some cases in which two of the #21 chromosomes attach itself to other chromosomes. It is said that a person with Translocation Down Syndrome will have the same characteristics with individuals that have Trisomy 21.

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Babies born with Down Syndrome have similar characteristics. These characteristics distinguish them from normal born babies. Some of the characteristics include: eyes slanted upward, protruding tongue, flat bridge of nose, and decreased muscle tone. Others include: short stature, the ears appear to be smaller and lower set, the neck is lightly short and reflexes of the child tend to be weak. Children born with Down Syndrome may have a high risk of medical problems as well. These problems consist of: congenital heart defects, respiratory problems, and childhood leukemia. However, not all these medical problems affect the child born with Down Syndrome.

Over the years, the thoughts and ideas about Down Syndrome have drastically changed. Some educators and doctors have spent a great deal of research in this area. Down Syndrome is a disorder that involves similar physical characteristics and complicating health issues that lead to developmental delays. At one point in time, it was said that individuals with Down Syndrome were not able to be educated. Today, individuals with Down Syndrome have proven to be competent

individuals who lead productive lives. With the appropriate services, education, and the opportunity to explore in a nurturing environment, this unique population of individuals will be productive members of the society.

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