If two people with down syndrome have a baby, does it also have DS?

Question

Because DS is a genetic condition right? Well, it's a genetic mutatin but if both parents have them genes then it would be dominent right?

Answer 1

most male children with downs syndrome are either sterile or have a very low sperm count so the possibility of that is very unlike for them to father children. however, d.s. is considered to be a genetic disorder meaning if one child has it, his/her siblings, nieces, and nephews, etc could have it.

Answer 2

not necessarily.

Answer 3

Down syndrome is NOT caused by an abnormal gene, it is a trisomy - affected individuals have an extra chromosome #21.  Dominant and recessive genes do not play a role here.

The cause is meiotic nondisjunction - when the chromosomes split to form gametes, those chromosomes stick together, so the egg or sperm has two copies instead of the normal one copy.

From the Down Syndrome Assn website:

"Both women and men with Down's syndrome can be fertile, although both sexes have a reduced fertility rate.  They therefore need advice on, and access to, contraception.  People with Down's syndrome need careful and sensitive advice about having children, as there are a number of issues to consider.  Some people with learning disabilities can successfully parent their children, given the right support.  However, many couples with learning disabilities decide for themselves not to have children because of the responsibility and hard work involved, or for financial reasons.  Where one parent has Down's syndrome, there is a 35% to 50% chance that the child would inherit the syndrome.  This chance is even higher where both parents have Down's syndrome.  There is also a high chance that pregnancy would end in miscarriage.  Women with Down's syndrome are also more likely than other women to have a premature baby, or to need a caesarian section."