Trisomy 21

What is Down Syndrome (DS)? Many people are not sure what DS is, yet it is a very prevalent syndrome around the world affecting all races and genders. Down Syndrome or Trisomy 21, is a chromosomal disorder affecting the 21st pair of chromosomes. This is where, rather than being the typical 2 chromosomes, there are 3 at the 21st pair as shown above. “Down syndrome occurs in one out of every 733 live births, and more than 400,000 people in the U.S. have this genetic condition” (http://www.ndss.org/). There are certain characteristics of those with DS including: flattened facial features, protruding tongue, small head, upward slanting eyes, and unusually shaped ears. Other characteristics that may not be as noticeable are: poor muscle tone, broad, short hands with a single crease in the palm, short fingers, and excessive flexibility (www.mayoclinic.com/healthy/down-syndrome).