Down syndrome is a condition marked by abnormal physical and mental development that is caused by a genetic defect. This genetic defect is caused by an extra chromosome. People born with Down syndrome have 47 chromosomes compared to the normal amount of 46, 23 chromosomes inherited from each parent. This extra chromosome originates more often in the mother's egg than the father's sperm. Chromosomes are individual, large DNA molecules in a cell nucleus. They contain the genes along with st

Down syndrome is usually recognized soon after birth because of characteristic facial features such as a flattened nose, upward slanting of the eyes, a large tongue that often protrudes from a small mouth, a small, rounded head, and a short stature. Other symptoms that might only be noticed by doctors include congenital malformations of the heart of gastrointestinal system, flabby muscle tone and poor coordination due to poor control over the motor nerves, poorly functioning endocrine glands, narrow ear canals, low resistance to infection, weak vision, and misshapen teeth with thin enamel. All children with Down syndrome also have learning difficulties to some extent and there is a large variation in handicap. In some cases Down syndrome may be discovered before birth through a test known as amniocentesis in which fluid is taken from around the baby and the fetal cells are examined for the ext

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