DOWN’S SYNDROMEBy: Leo Scholten & Cole Hayes

BACKGROUND/HISTORY John Langdon Down first identified it as a

mental disability in 1862. In 1959, Jerome Lejeune discovered that

Down’s Syndrome occurred due to an extra chromosome.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO HAVE DOWN’S SYNDROME

People who have Down’s Syndrome have an increased risk for such medical conditions as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer’s disease, and childhood leukemia.

There are also physical disabilities that are prevalent in those who have Down’s Syndrome.

HOW IS DOWN’S SYNDROME PASSED ON

Down’s Syndrome is caused by a chromosomal mutation.

Down’s Syndrome is caused by a mistake in cell division during the development of the sperm, egg, or embryo.

OTHER FACTS About 1 in every 700 babies each year are born

with Down’s Syndrome within the United States.

There are more than 400,000 people with Down’s Syndrome in the United States, according to The National Down Syndrome Society.

The age of the mother has an effect on the chances of the child having Down’s Syndrome. A woman at the age of 30 has a chance of 1/1,000 to

have a child with Down’s Syndrom as opposed to a woman whose age is 40 who has a chance of 1/100.

CITATIONS Ward, Conor. "History of Down's Syndrome."

— Intellectual Disability. N.p., 2002. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.

"What Is Down Syndrome." What Is Down Syndrome. Tri-State Down Syndrome Support Group, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013

"Down Syndrome Background." Down Syndrome Background. Disease.com, n.d. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.

"Birth Defects." Down Syndrome | Baby | March of Dimes. March of Dimes, July 2009. Web. 19 Feb. 2013.