How much do you know about Down Syndrome

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Children with Down’s Syndrome is one of the most common birth defects of the recent times. Down’s syndrome is due to a faulty chromosomal arrangement, which can cause varying degrees of physical, intellectual and medical issues. A person with Down Syndrome has 47 chromosomes instead of the normal 46 and affects the way a child develops. In India, it affects approximately one in eight hundred live births. This quiz is aimed to spread awareness of Down’s Syndrome. Take the quiz to see how much you know about this genetic defect.

1. A chromosome is

a. An Organ
b. A Tissue
c. A blood cell
d. Threadlike structures of nucleic acids and protein found in living cells

2. Which of the following factors increase the risk of Down’s Syndrome?

a. BMI of the mother
b. Age of the mother
c. Amount of drugs consumed by the mother

3. Down’s Syndrome is also known as

a. Autism
b. ADHD
c. Trisomy
d. Alzheimer’s

4. What type of people are affected by Down’s Syndrome?

a. Anybody
b. Males
c. Females

5. People with Down’s Syndrome have an increased risk of getting

a. Leukemia
b. Tuberculosis
c. Leprosy

6. Which of the following tests can identify babies who are at risk during pregnancy?

a. Ultrasonic
b. Trisomy 21
c. Aminocentesis

7. Are all people with Down’s Syndrome acutely retarded?

a. True
b. False

8. Is there a cure for Down’s Syndrome?

a. Yes
b. No

9. Although aminocentesis can identify a baby with down syndrome, it cannot be confirmed unless the baby is born. Which of these tests are used for diagnosis?

a. X-ray
b. Ultrasound Scan
c. Karyotype

10. Which of the following are associated with Down’s Syndrome?

a. Congenital heart disease
b. Intestinal problems
c. Dementia
d. Thyroid dysfunction
e. All the above

11. Which of the following is NOT associated with Down’s Syndrome?

a. Small ears
b. Upward slanting eyes
c. Webbed Feet
d. Flattened nose

12. Which type of Down’s Syndrome can be inherited?

a. Mosaic
b. Trisomy 21
c. Translocation


Answers:

1. D. The nucleus of each living cell has DNA molecule, which has thread like structures called chromosomes.

2. B. Though the risk of a baby having Down Syndrome increases with the age of the mother, this can occur to younger mothers also. The age of the father also has an impact of conceiving a child with Down’s Syndrome

3. C. Studies determined that the source of Down Syndrome is due to an extra copy of chromosome 21, which is also called trisomy 21. Therefore, Down Syndrome is also known as Trisomy.

4. A. Down Syndrome affects people of all ethnic groups. Statistics show that more boys are born with DB than girls.

5. A. Children with Down Syndrome have an increased risk of leukemia by 18 times. Why? They have extra copies of chromosomes opposed to two in a normal child which causes problems in organs and the system which leads to leukemia

6. C. Amniocentesis is performed between 16 to 20 weeks of conception. Fluid is extracted from sac that surrounds the fetus to check range of birth disorders,including Down Syndrome.

7. B. People with Down’s Syndrome have moderate range of retardation. They even live an independent life and are employed.

8. B. Since this defect deals with chromosomes, there is no cure for Down
Syndrome. However, there are several treatments that focus on control symptoms and conditions that result due to Down Syndrome

9. C. Karyotype is a blood or tissue test which shows chromosomes grouped by size, number and shape. This helps in the diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

10. E. Apart from cognitive development, a person with Down Syndrome has other medical conditions as listed.

11. C. Webbed feet is common among people – with or without Down Syndrome. There is no evidence the people with webbed feet can have health problems. However, people with DS may have webbed feet.

12. C. Most cases of Down Syndrome are not inherited. In cases of people with trans-location Down Syndrome inherit the condition from an unaffected parent. Trans-location Down Syndrome is the rearranged chromosome material between chromosome 21 and other chromosome. This displacement is known as balanced trans-location. This disturbance in chromosome does not cause health problems, it becomes unbalanced when it is passed on to the next generation. Thus, people who inherit unbalanced trans-location having chromosome 21, risk Down Syndrome.