Persuasive Essay On Down Syndrome

Laura Hope Laws was a hopeful and helpful young woman, and an active member of her church’s youth group. At only 14, she had a spot on her varsity soccer team; soon in her career, she broke her jaw and had been prescribed pain killers. She then became addicted to them. At 13, Laura experimented with alcohol and marijuana, but it never became a problem. After running out of her pain killers, however, Laura searched and searched for more, but then decided to turn to something more available: heroin.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that numerous individuals around the world suffer from; it is an intellectual disability that is caused by having one too many chromosome 21 copies, trisomy 21. The average person has two copies of chromosome 21 in each cell, whereas, an individual with Down syndrome has an extra copy of chromosome 21. This happens when either the sperm or egg cell undergoes atypical cell division during development. In the United States, there are approximately 400,000 individuals who have been diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to the last census in 2012 (National Down Syndrome Society).

Did you know that close to 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome every year in the United States? The most common type of chromosomal condition is Down syndrome and there are a few different types of this condition, along with, several different traits that are displayed with this condition. I have always been interested in the topic of Down syndrome and thought it was a great idea to study more about it for my speech. First, I will tell you about what Down syndrome is and who discovered it. Second, I will talk to you about some symptoms and characteristics of this chromosome disorder. Third, I will discuss the 3 different types of this condition, and lastly, how they diagnose Down syndrome prenatally.

Answer: The most common form of Down syndrome is known as Trisomy 21, a condition where individuals have 47 chromosomes in each cell instead of 46. This is caused by an error in cell division called nondisjunction, which leaves a sperm or egg cell with an extra copy of chromosome 21 before or at conception. To the genes when the cell division occurs is when the extra chromosome goes to find a cell and attaches

Down Syndrome is not commonly genetically passed down as opposed to what some may think, it happens by random. About 1% of the cases are heredity and 5% come from the father. Although, the risk of having a child diagnosed with down syndrome increase dramatically past the age of 35. “A 35-year-old woman has about a one in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in 100 by age 40.” (ndss)

The genetic disorder of Trisomy 21, or Down syndrome is one that has often interested me. I understand that many children born with his genetic disorder can in fact live a full life, often with assistance. When answering the question of what exactly Down syndrome is, a good definition can be one describing this disorder as a genetic condition where a person has an extra 21st chromosome. The typical person has 46 chromosomes, therefore the person born with Down syndrome has 47. This extra chromosome brings with it some physical and cognitive characteristics that include mild to severe cognitive delay, low muscle tone, stunted growth, an easily identifiable upward slant to the eyes, generally a deep crease across the center of the palm and the appearance of a flat face. We have to keep in mind however, that each person with Down syndrome is an individual and might have some of these characteristics to different degrees, or possibly none at all.

Down syndrome occurs in people who were born with three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This extra genetic material is what brings about the effects of Down’s syndrome. It is often characterized by an impairment of cognitive (process of thought) ability. Most people with Down syndrome have lower than average, mild to moderate, cognitive ability and this cannot be predicted at birth. A smaller number fall into the severe impairment range. Physically, people with Down’s syndrome are smaller in stature, have less muscle tone, and have noticeably different facial features. The number of these births occurs approximately in one out of every one thousand (ndss.org). As of 2007, the number of people in the United States with Down syndrome stood at about 350,000. These numbers will shrink because now (most) potential parents can know the condition of the fetus early. This information is included to let the reader relate to the struggles that some with Down syndrome goes through.

A person that has Down syndrome may have some physical problems or disabilities. Some common physical problems are: short necks, poor muscle tone, a small head and an overall smaller body. Approximately one third of babies born with Down syndrome have heart defects, most of which are now

Symptoms of down syndrome are the following Flat facial features, Small head, Short neck, Protruding tongue, Upward slanting eyes, that is unusual for the child's ethnic group, 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 or the iris of the eye called Brushfield spots, Short height. Infants and children with down syndrome may be average size at birth , but typically they grow slower and remain shorter than other children the same age. In general, developmental milestones, such as sitting, crawling or walking may occur at about twice the age of child without impairment. People with down syndrome also suffer from cognitive delays. People affected by down syndrome varies greatly, it can happen to anyone, although more common in pregnant mothers 35 years or older. the cause of down syndrome is due to having an extra chromosome, therefore it is a disorder that happens 99% randomly and only 1% genetically. Unfortunately there is no cure, treatment or prevention for down syndrome as of today, but scientists are continuing to research for a cure. People with Down Syndrome live healthy, active lives and can function in an everyday environment.

“Hey let's go to the cafe with the pink roof”, I pointed as my friends and I waded through the precarious poodles through the cobblestone road. We were all eager to retreat from the drewery weather, into a warm lit cafe. The nine of us were what you could call “stereotypical American tourists.” Yelling loudly, carrying oversized bags and wearing bright colored clothes.

Down syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome of 21 in the children’s cell. Normally people have 46 chromosomes, however down syndrome contains 47 chromosomes. (Nhs.uk, 2016i)

One of the most common genetic birth defects is Down syndrome which is a congenital disorder caused from a chromosome defect. It causes impairments and physical abnormalities. This is a condition where a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome. According to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), 1 in 700 babies are born with DS. There is not an exact cause of how DS happens but there is an explanation as to what happens. When there is any case of reproduction, genes from both parents are passed to the children. Within these genes there are chromosomes and the child is supposed to receive 23 pairs of chromosomes or 46 total. Children with DS end up with 3 copies or an extra partial copy of chromosome 21 instead of 2

According to the global down syndrome foundation, here are 17 myth and facts about down syndrome.

Down syndrome is a congenital disorder resulting from a chromosome defect. Down syndrome affects people of all ages, race, and economic status. It causes an increased risk of health problems and developmental issues. Researchers have found that centuries ago there were people who seemed to depict the same features of those with Down syndrome today. In 1866, John Langdon Down was the first to identify Down syndrome as a disorder. Before he described it as a disorder, those with Down syndrome were killed, abandoned, or excluded from society. Many were also institutionalized and received improper treatment because of the uncertainty of the disorder. In 1959, the French physician Jérôme Lejeune identified Down syndrome as a chromosomal condition. Instead of the usual 46 chromosomes present in each cell, Lejeune observed 47 in the cells of individuals with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome was named after John Langdon Down, who was the first person to discover Down syndrome. In the earlier years it was called Mongolism, which is no longer used because it is offensive to the Mongolians. James N. Parker and Philip M. Parker state “Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by an error in cell division that results in the presence of an additional third chromosome 21 or ‘trisomy 21’” (10). There are different types of Down Syndrome according to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), there is Trisomy 21, Mosaicism, and Translocation (What is Down syndrome?). There is no way to prevent having a baby with Down syndrome although chances increase as the woman gets older. The NDSS says, “A 35-year-old woman has about a 1 in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in 100 by age 40” (What is Down syndrome?). Although the risk is greater for older women, it is still possible to have a child with Down syndrome at a younger age.