The chance of getting Down syndrome is approximately one in 700 births, but the risk varies with the age of the mother. The incidence of Down syndrome in children born to 25-year-old mothers is approximately 1 in 1200; the risk increases to approximately 1 in 120 for women older than 40 years. Prenatal tests like amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling can be used to detect the chromosomal abnormality causing Down syndrome. Maternal blood tests can also suggest the presence of a fetus with Down syndrome when levels of alphafetoprotein are lower than usual, or when levels of unconjugated estriol and human chorionic gonadotrophin are abnormal.

The chromosomal abnormality which generally causes Down syndrome is trisomy-21, or the presence of three 21st chromosomes. As a result, the affected person has 47 chromosomes in all body cells instead of the normal 46. Scientists assume that the reason for the abnormally is the fertilization of an ovum having 24 chromosomes by a sperm with a normal assortment of 23, but they have also found that the sperm can carry the extra

1. The ostracism related to Down Syndrome

Persons with Down syndrome are often short in stature and have a small, round head with a high, flattened forehead. A typical feature is a fold of skin, the epicanthic fold, on either side of the bridge of the nose.. Such persons are also subject to heart defects-many of which can be corrected surgically-and are more likely to develop leukemia than "normal" people.

First of all, even if it sounds very logical, it's important to say that Down Syndrome isn't usual; it's not something that occurs in everybody's life . A minority of people have this disease, and therefore, we're not used to this. Maybe it scares us, maybe it makes us laugh, or maybe it makes us feel sorry. Anyway, we feel uncomfortable in these people's company. We're not used to confront them in our everyday life ,so it makes it difficult for us to share our lives with them in the same unique society. This is when the phenomenon of ostracism makes it's entrance.

th the society may be a very painful experience. Both for the disabled and his co-citizens.

I will conclude by saying that it's a fact , this ostracism really exists . But isn't it human ? Sometimes one just cannot control their feelings. It's nature, it's the way we are .And actually , there's nothing more to it . At least , for the moment .A change of mentality is a long process. The people concerned must in a way accept this, as long as they're not made fun of or discriminated. And again, as in the issue of racism, tolerance is the key. We can't be asked to like them, but respect is the least they can expect. And I'm not talking about avoiding people with Down Syndrome, but about violating ethical laws. Using people because of a problem they may have is not good. What I'm saying is that ostracism cannot be compared with discrimination.

, the more effect it has. And what isn't more original for us than something we never confront or deal with ? We watch the people with the disease because we are curious. What do they do ? What will happen ? I once lived in China. Over there, people used to stare at me because I was different. A TV ad with me in China would have made the same effect as these TV ads with Down Syndrome affected persons did in the US. And then again, few are the people who watch these ads without a reaction. Whether it's positive or negative, it makes us think.

Jason Kingsley and Mitchell Levitz are good examples for the rest of the community. Their parents are, in my opinion, excellent ones. They never expected anything from anyone when their child went out in the society. They treated them as normal persons, human beings, in public. This is the way every parent with a Down Syndrome child should do. The first years especially, affection is very important, just as for children without the disease . The love they show for their

Some common words found in the essay are:
Syndrome Syndrome, Growing Syndrome, Street Journal, Jason Mitchell, Persons Syndrome, Life Syndrome, Mitchell Levitz, Live Society, People Syndrome, people syndrome, normal people, chromosomal abnormality, people disease, syndrome affected, syndrome child, , society treated normal, tv ads, persons syndrome, syndrome children, approximately 1, ostracism related syndrome, syndrome affected persons,
Approximate Word count = 1924
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)