DS they all look the same...

Philippines
May 12, 2008 9:14am CST
How come a person with DS look the same? they are from a different kind of genes but all over the world their face are similar. what could be the explanations for this? I just wonder.
1 response
@gerald_lian (2188)
• Australia
12 May 08
Not really sure about this, but I think the genes that are altered in DS code for some characteristics that you see in them, that's why all over the world they look the same. For example, the gene might code for short height, small eyes, sticking-out tongue and so on. Besides, research has shown that it is chromosome 23 that is affected, with one additional chromsome added to the normal chromosome pair making it a trisomy. So this change should be standard among all sufferers (all sufferers have it) of this disease, and hence characteristics should be the same. Not sure whether my explanation makes any sense, but I hope it contained some interesting info nevertheless......
• Philippines
12 May 08
well, thanks for explaining, it does makes sense on the chromosomes. so it is a disease that is attached to their chromosomes?
• Australia
12 May 08
Not really sure whether it can be put that way, but as chromosomes contain genes, addition of genes to what is already normal will make an individual become abnormal....so in a way the disease is related to the additional chromosome at position 23. I guess it is these genes that give those characteristics to DS people. In fact, adding of subtracting chromosomes at other different positions in the normal human chromosome arrangement can lead to other diseases as well such as Klinefelter syndrome.