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Downs syndrome is in medical terms called Trisomy 21 as it is caused by a genetic defect in the 21st set of chromosome, usually you have 44 chromosomes - 22 from your mother and 22 from your father and a set of sex chromosomes (these are your male/female genes), if you have Down syndrome you have an extra chromosome on the 21st set of genes so instead of 1 from each parent you have 1 from you dad, 1 from your mum and a mutated gene.

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βˆ™ 12y ago
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βˆ™ 13y ago

The cause of Down syndrome is one of three types of abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21. All three abnormalities result in extra genetic material from chromosome 21, which is responsible for the characteristic features and developmental problems of Down syndrome. The three genetic variations that can cause Down syndrome include:

  • Trisomy 21. More than 90 percent of cases of Down syndrome are caused by trisomy 21. A child with trisomy 21 has three copies of chromosome 21 - instead of the usual two copies - in all of his or her cells. This form of Down syndrome is caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell.
  • Mosaic Down syndrome. In this rare form of Down syndrome, children have some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21. This mosaic of normal and abnormal cells is caused by abnormal cell division after fertilization.
  • Translocation Down syndrome. Down syndrome can also occur when part of chromosome 21 becomes attached (translocated) onto another chromosome, before or at conception. Children with translocation Down syndrome have the usual two copies of chromosome 21, but they also have additional material from chromosome 21 stuck to the translocated chromosome. This form of Down syndrome is uncommon.

There are no known behavioral or environmental factors that cause Down syndrome.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

There are many causes for Down Syndrome. One of the cause is:

Nondisjunction : The body's cells contains nucleus which has 23 pairs of chromosomes; the nucleus is storage for genetic material (genes). The occurence of Nondisjunction is mainly caused by an error in cell division and an embryo ends up with three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two. In conception the 21st chromosome in a sperm or egg can have an abnormal cell division and as the embryo grows the additional chromosome maybe copied to the rest of the body's cells. Nondisjunction mainly causes Down syndrome type called Trisomy 21. The risk of nondisjunction in women increases as age passes.

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βˆ™ 11y ago

Down's Syndrome is the unfortunate effect of an error that takes place during cell division at fertilisation. The error leads the child to have an extra 21st chromosone which causes cognitive and physical impairments.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

an abnormality of the splitting of the chromosomes

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βˆ™ 14y ago

Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by an error in cell division that results in an extra 21st chromosome

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βˆ™ 14y ago

Nondisjunction

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βˆ™ 12y ago

non-disjunction

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Q: What are the causes of down syndrome?
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What trisomy causes Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is caused by the presence of a third chromosome 21


What pathogen causes Down syndrome?

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Does Down Syndrome causes childlike behavior?

yes it causes childlike symptoms


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There are many causes of retardation. These includes Down syndrome, velocariofacial syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, problems during pregnancy and other genetic disorders.


Causes Down Syndrome?

Having an extra copy of chromosome 21. You are supposed to have 2; when you have 3 (trisomy 21), Down's Syndrome is the result.


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See the Related Link to a very good FAQ on the causes of Down syndrome.


Why do people get down syndrome is it purely genetic?

Down syndrome is purely genetic. There are no known environmental causes of the disorder. It is not a disease that is passed from parent to child. It is simply an disorder when the chromosomes split during cell division during development. The mayoclinic describes the causes: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/down-syndrome/DS00182/DSECTION=causes


Why did evolution not occur in down syndrome?

Down Syndrome is a the addition of an extra chromosome and not really related to evolution. It is more of a genetic mutation that causes this event to occur.


What causes Irukandji Syndrome?

Quote from Wikipedia: "Irukandji syndrome is a condition induced by envenomization through the sting of Carukia barnesi, the Irukandji jellyfish, and other cubozoans.[1]"Note: Irukandji Syndrome has nothing to do with Down Syndrome and this question should NOT be placed in the Down Syndrome category!


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Is the extra copy of Chromosome 21 that causes Down syndrome dominant or recessive?

Down syndrome is neither caused by dominant or recessive chromosomes it is simply caused by an error in the translation process of chromosome 21.


Which process could result in the type of cell mutation that causes Down syndrome?

Down's syndrome is caused by trisomy of the 21st chromosome. This is mostly caused when the chromosome pair fails to separate properly (nondisjunction).