What is Down syndrome? Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder characterized by the presence of an extra #21 chromosome. Instead of having 46 chromosomes in each of his/her cells, a person with Down syndrome has 47. The extra chromosome may be derived from either the egg or the sperm. It is believed that during cell division of a sperm or egg, the two #21 chromosomes do not separate properly (nondisjunction). Thus, one cell will have an extra #21 chromosome …showed first 75 words of 1844 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1844 total…employment. People with Down syndrome are clerical workers, computer operators, assistant coaches, photographers, teacher assistants, etc. People with Down syndrome are becoming more and more contributing and tax paying members of their communities. What is the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome? Improved medical care has primarily prolonged the life span of people with Down syndrome. It is not unusual for people with Down syndrome to live into their 50's, 60's and even 70's.