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Articles on Down syndrome

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Addressing the increased risks of certain diseases among those with Down syndrome could help improve their quality of life. Halfpoint Images/Moment via Getty Images

Several Down syndrome features may be linked to a hyperactive antiviral immune response – new research

People with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome 21. Understanding the effects of those triplicated genes could help improve the health of those with Down syndrome and other medical conditions.
Couples who are carriers of genes for recessive diseases don’t show any symptoms. Photo by Drew Hays on Unsplash

What prospective parents need to know about gene tests such as ‘prepair’

Cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and fragile X syndrome are serious diseases, and most couples carrying the genetic mutations for these don’t know it. Should they all be tested?
Couples thinking about kids can be screened for genes that may cause disease in their offspring. Redd Angelo, Unsplash

Explainer: what is pre-pregnancy carrier screening and should potential parents consider it?

Most of us will be carriers of recessive genes that cause disease. If our partner carries the same gene we could pass it on to our kids. Testing exists, but what are the pros and cons?
About 3% of babies are born with birth defects, when there is a problem with how they develop in the womb. from www.shutterstock.com

Why we don’t know what causes most birth defects

We still don’t know what’s behind four out of every five birth defects. But that can change.
For the most part, pregnant women wish to remain pregnant – no matter how they came to be so. Jerry Lai/Flickr

Why should we offer screening for Down syndrome anyway?

The details of a surrogacy case involving an Australian couple commissioning a pregnancy in Thailand have created outrage in all sorts of quarters. But the father’s admission that he would have asked the…
NRL player Craig Wing has a sister with Down Syndrome. AAP

How come you don’t want one? Living with Down Syndrome

“Fuck you, Wing, your sister has Down syndrome!” These words were once hurled at NSW rugby league star Craig Wing while he was playing for the Sydney Roosters against the Canterbury Bulldogs at the Sydney…

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