Can you predict Downs Syndrome?

Question

Is downs syndrome a random genetic change, or is it something that can be identified and inherited from your parents, like eye color? can they tell from the parents' genes if their offspring will be more or less likely to get downs syndrome, or is each case independent? Thanks

Answer 1

Nah, it's just one of those random things. There are heaps of weird things that can happen with chromosomes or individual genes. Most don't have any noticable effect, some do. Downs Syndrome is either one too many of chromosome 21 or one too few. You can't predict whether that will happen, it just does.

Answer 2

You cannot predict downs syndrome, but if you are over 35 when you get pregnant, your child may be more likely to have downs syndrome. You can get a test done in the early stages of pregnancy to test the amniotic fluid (the jelly stuff surrounding the baby) and it can tell you if the baby has downs or not. At this stage you can then choose whether or not you feel it right to continue with the pregnancy or not. The test is called an amniocentesis test. hope this was helpful =D  

Answer 3

There's a gene. A test can be done early in the 1st trimester to tell you if the baby has it..Thats all I do know about this.

Answer 4

Down's syndrome is a genetic disorder  caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. That's why it's called Trisomy 21 one of the types.  

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes mental retardation and other problems. The condition varies in severity, so developmental problems may range from mild to serious

There's no medical cure for this condition. But increased understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions make a big difference in the lives of both children and adults with Down syndrome

Most cases of Down syndrome aren't inherited. They're caused by a mistake in cell division during the development of the egg, sperm or embryo.

The chance of passing on the translocation depends on the s*x of the parent who carries the rearranged chromosome 21:

If the father is the carrier, the risk is about 3 percent.

If the mother is the carrier, the risk is about 12 percent

Risk factors

Some parents have a greater risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. Risk factors include:

Advancing maternal age. As a woman's eggs age, there's a greater inclination for chromosomes to divide improperly. So a woman's chances of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome increase with age. By age 35, a woman's risk of conceiving a child with Down syndrome is 1 in 385. By age 40, the risk is 1 in 106. And by age 45, the risk is 1 in 30. However, most children with Down syndrome are actually born to women under age 35 because this younger group of women has far more babies.

Mothers who already have one child with Down syndrome. Typically, a woman who has one child with Down syndrome has about a 1 percent chance of having another child with Down syndrome

.

Parents who are carriers of the genetic translocation for Down syndrome. Both men and women can pass the genetic translocation for Down syndrome on to their children.

Screening tests during pregnancy

Ultrasound. The doctor uses ultrasound to measure a specific region on the

Blood tests

Diagnostic tests during pregnancy

Amniocentesis.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS

Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS).

Prevention

There's no way to prevent Down syndrome. However, if you're at high risk of having a child with Down syndrome or you already have one child with Down syndrome, you may wish to consult a genetic counselor before becoming pregnant.

A genetic counselor can help you understand your chances of having a child with Down syndrome. He or she can also explain the prenatal tests you will be offered and help you figure out the pros and cons of testing for your particular situation.

So the answer is yes it can be identified - based on the diagnostic tests mentioned  above.  Most cases are not hereditary.  

Answer 5

If there is no one has found out how to yet. So far studies haven't been able to find out what causes it or whether there is anything in particular responsible for the mutation (it is an extra copy of chromosome 21, instead of 2 there is 3). This sort of mutation can happen to any chromosome, but most cannot be lived with. This particular one and a couple of others can be.

My son has DS and because of this I have met lots of other families with kids with DS too. So far I haven't met a family that have a history of DS or anything that would have lead them to expect that they would have a kid with DS. Also they r all younger families like my own, in their 20's and 30's and healthy.

Personally I think it is a random thing that just seems to happen, although there r 4 different types of DS. Translocation is actually 2 of these - Translocation with another chromosome 21 and Translocation with chromosome 13, 14, 15, 22. The reason I bring this up is because these 2 types can be past on by a parent if they r a carrier. These types make up maybe 2% of all DS cases though, then there is Mosaic DS which is about another2% and the rest is Trisomy 21 or Down syndrome.

I hope this helps a bit, it is a question that us parents of kids with DS often ponder :o)

Answer 6

down syndrome is a ginetic defect which is when a baby is born with too many or not enough chromosomes in their DNA but i cant remember which ones, sorry thats all i can remember