Genetic/Environmental Probolems

• Down Syndrome:

  • extra copy of 21st chromosome (tristomy 21)
  • impacts 1 in 1000 childeren
  • typical features: flatterned facial features, heart defects, mental imparement
• Inherited Diseases:

  • sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, tay sachs disease
  • genetic testing can often determine if a parent is a carrier of genes for a specific disease
• Sex-chromosone Probolems:

  • involves sex chromosones
  • can include klinefelters syndrome (extra X chromosone), turners syndrome (single X chromosone)
• Maternal Drug Use:

  • can have devistating effects on foetus
  • smoking linked to low birth weight, weakened immune system, poor respiration, neurological imparement
  • alcohol use can leade to Fetal Alchohol Syndrome, linked to heart defects, bodily malformations, mental imparement
• Maternal Disease:

  • e.g herpes, rubella, AIDS
  • herpes is one of most common, leading to deffness, brain swelling, mental imparement