There are people in this world that sometimes get looked over. One special group that falls victim to this is people with down syndrome. In the United States, about 6000 babies are born with down syndrome each year. Because of that high number, many people are interested in expanding their knowledge such as the defects of down syndrome and how it is diagnosed.
Down syndrome is a chromosomal defect which results from an extra copy of chromosome 21. A human with the ‘normal’ number of chromosomes has 46 total, but because of their partial or full, extra copy, people with down syndrome have a total of 47 chromosomes. They also have many defects resulting from the extra chromosome. (“What Is Down Syndrome?”) Some of these defects affect their physical appearance such as “low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the
…show more content…
Down syndrome can be diagnosed either prenatally or at birth. Prenatal tests can be separated into two categories: screening tests and diagnostic tests. Screening tests determine the likelihood of a pregnant woman having a baby with down syndrome. According to the Washington Post, screening tests have encouraged many mothers to get abortions after they discovered their baby has down syndrome. One mother of a baby girl with down syndrome spoke out saying, “With DNA tests called MaterniT21 being popularly referred to as the “Down test,” the primary aim of testing needs no further explanation. I detest the fear that is cultivated by medical professionals, the medical industry and politicians about giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. Down syndrome does not cause human suffering.” (Lindeman. Para 9) Diagnostic tests are far more accurate than screening tests and they can diagnose whether or not your baby has down syndrome. (“Down