Nondisjunction Case Study

Trisomy 21 is a congenital disorder when a person is born with an extra chromosome. Normally, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes; a Down syndrome baby has a total of 47 chromosomes. This extra chromosome changes the babies’ brain and body development, which may cause physical and mental delays and challenges for the baby. It is caused when an error occurs during cell division. This error is called nondisjunction normally, when one cell splits into two, the pairs of chromosome are separated so one will go to one cell, and the other goes to another cell. In nondisjunction, there is an error were both chromosomes will go into one cell and none will go into the other.
*What are the risk factors for this disorder and can the risks be minimized?
There have been no evident environmental factors or behavioral activities of the
There's no way to prevent having a baby with Down syndrome. If you already have had a baby that has Down syndrome or you are at high risk, you can seek a genetic counselor before deciding to have a baby. A genetic counselor can evaluate your risks of having a baby with Down syndrome.
*What screening tests were available to screen for this prenatal disorder and to diagnose at birth?
Screening tests for Down syndrome are typically a routine practice during prenatal care. In the first trimester of pregnancy a blood test and an ultra sound are performed.
A blood test is performed to measures the level of pregnancy-associated plasma protein and the pregnancy producing hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin. This test may indicate if there is a problem with the baby.
An ultrasound is performed to measure the back of the baby’s neck. This is called a nuchal translucency screening test. If more fluid than usual is found in this area of the neck tissue this may indicate that abnormalities are