Just the Facts

Apparently they are working on something and I can't upload images right now, so I promise to have some posted tomorrow :) For tonight I only have a fact to share with you, because I'm so worn out. I found this from a new website, down-syndrome-facts-and-fiction.com and this is a mom's perspective on the causes of Down syndrome.

"There are a few different causes of Down syndrome. The main cause is an "error" in cell division at the time of conception. Each parent contributes 23 chromosomes equaling 46 chromosomes for new life, except in Down syndrome. Chromosome #21 from either the mother or father somehow gets "sticky" and drags an extra copy of genetic material along, causing the newly formed chromosome to contain three copies instead of two. This gives people with Down syndrome 47 chromosomes. It's why Down syndrome is also called "Trisomy 21" because the 21st chrmosome has 3 copies. There are other, rarer types called Mosaic Down syndrome and Translocation Down syndrome too. Down syndrome is not caused by anything either parent did. It just happens. It occurs at the same rate all over the world, across racial, economic, and cultural lines."