Down Syndrome Defined
Down
syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of
an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are tiny particles that are
present
in every cell of our bodies. They carry the "blueprint" for
all the characteristics we inherit from our parents. The
extra chromosome
is attached at conception, so individuals are born with this
condition.
Down
syndrome is associated with a number of developmental difficulties:
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Delayed motor skills (such as sitting, crawling
and walking in infancy) |
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Delayed cognitive skills (such as speech and language
acquisition and short-term memory abilities)
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Why is it Called "Down
Syndrome"
The name "Down" comes from the English doctor John Langdon Down,
who first described the syndrome in 1866. A "syndrome" is a collection
of signs or characteristics. |
