Question

Can you tell if a newborn has Down syndrome?

Answer 1

Down syndrome:

1. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder due to autosomal aberrations.
2. Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome number 21.
3. Here, both the chromosomes of the pair 21 pass into a single egg or sperm due to non-disjunction. Thus, the egg or sperm possesses 24 chromosomes instead of 23 and the offspring has 47 chromosomes instead of 46.
4. A baby with Down syndrome has the following characteristics-
   1. Rounded face
   2. Broad forehead
   3. Flat hands and tiny fingers
   4. Protruding furrowed tongue
   5. Short neck
   6. Mongolian-type eye folds