Children's Health
Down Syndrome - Cause
Down syndrome is caused by abnormal cell division in early fetal development. Medical experts believe it most often starts in a woman's egg before or at conception. Less often, the error occurs in sperm at conception. It is not known what causes the cells to divide abnormally.
Genes grouped together make up chromosomes. Normally, a child inherits 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent. The abnormal cell division related to Down syndrome results in extra genetic material, usually an extra chromosome. The type of Down syndrome depends on how many of a person's cells get extra gene pieces. Translocation-type Down syndrome is sometimes passed down through families (inherited).
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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