What can you learn from the study of Down syndrome?

Answer 1

You can learn many things. You can learn what causes Down Syndrome, which is what happens when you have three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. In a normal child, they inherit two copies of each chromosome, one from each parent, but when you have Down syndrome, you inherit 2 copies from one parent and 1 from the other, which makes three copies of chromosome 21. That extra copy can change what would have been any other life, like you and I. Your child will have a deformed face. They usually have a smaller chin, a rounder face, a protruding or oversized tongue, almond shaped eyes, palpebral fissures, shorter limbs. a single traverse palmar crease, poor muscle tone, and a larger space between the big and second toes. Note, not every child with Down Syndrome has every single one of these, and some people who do NOT have Down Syndrome may have some of these physical features. They are also know to have many medical problems, like Heart disease, hearing problems, short stature, thyroid disorders, Alzheimer's Disease, leukemia, and epilepsy. Children with Down Syndrome have to work harder than anyone else to keep up with neurotypical children their age, and even younger. Sadly, some parents don't want to deal with a disabled child, but if you stick with your child, you will be very happy one day to see them all grown up with children of their own. With the proper care and love, children with Down Syndrome can grow up to be very sufficient adults.