Down Syndrome affects one baby in every 691 just in the United States (“Down”). People used to think there was not a cure for Down Syndrome but scientists believe they have just found a way to reverse this genetic disorder. But first we need to start off with how Down Syndrome is developed.

“The nucleus of each cell contains twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down Syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of the chromosome 21” (“Down”).                     

The most common form of Down Syndrome is caused when an embryo, instead of just having the original two chromosome 21, has three of the same. When the embryo grows, the extra chromosome 21 is copied in every cell throughout the body and this is known as Trisomy 21. The second known cause is called Mosaicism. The same concept with the chromosomes happens again but only in just one of the cells. Therefore, instead of having forty-six chromosomes, one of the cells has forty-seven chromosomes meaning, there are two kinds of cells. Translocation is the third type of cause for Down Syndrome. During the cell division, chromosome 21 separates and connects to chromosome 14, which then creates an extra chromosome leading to Down Syndrome (“Down”).

Scientists believe they can reverse Down Syndrome by using “a small molecule known as a sonic hedgehog pathway agonist”. This was trialed with mice that had developed a form of Down Syndrome-like condition from birth. This compound was given to the Down Syndrome mice born that day and this treatment is only done once and shows that the cerebellum of the mices’ brains form to the normal size it was initially suppose to be. Scientists had experimented with the Down Syndrome-like condition mice and found that many of the mice traits were similar to people who were born with Down Syndrome. Researcher Roger Reeves believes that the “treatment improved learning by strengthening communication between the cerebellum and the hippocampus” (“Down Syndrome May”). The cerebellum is in charge of “balance, motor control, [and] is also involved in some cognitive functions such as attention, language and emotional functions.” The hippocampus controls the ” memory functions and behavior” (“Parts”). This treatment has not yet been determined safe for the use of humans. Here is a website that gives information on the functions of each specific chromosome and gene in the body.

Do you think this same procedure that worked on mice will work on humans? Can we actually reverse Down Syndrome?

Works Cited:

“Down Syndrome.” National Down Syndrome Society. 21 September 2013 <http://www.ndss.org/Down-Syndrome/What-Is-Down-Syndrome/>.

“Down Syndrome May Be Reversible.” Science A Go Go. 21 September 2013 <www.scienceagogo.com/news/20130804022329data_trunc_sys.shtml>.

“Parts of the Brain.” The Human Memory. 21 September 2013 <http://www.human-memory.net/brain_parts.html>.

Photo of Down Syndrome Child:

<http://www.redorbit.com/media/uploads/2013/09/downsyndrome-617×416.jpg>.