Causes+of+Down+syndrome

March 7, 2010**
 * Causes of Down syndrome

Down syndrome is caused by a condition in the chromosomes that can lead to many health problems. One of which is leukemia, but only 1% of Down syndrome children get this disease. Others include problems with sight and hearing, celiac disease, and an under-active thyroid gland. With age, Down syndrome patients have a greater risk of getting Alzheimer. Down syndrome occurs about every 1 in 740 newborns, but the chance of having a Down syndrome child increases with the age of the mother. The more complex definition of Down syndrome is: 3 copies of chromosome 21, instead of 2. This abnormality is not inherited, in most cases though. Down syndrome is caused by an error in cell division, usually in egg cells but occasionally in sperm. This error results in an abnormal number of chromosomes. March 14,2010**
 * Lisa Erdmann