Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome ( 15 Questions)

Question 1 :
A nurse is educating a group of nursing students about Down syndrome.
A student asks, "What is the primary cause of Down syndrome?" Which response by the nurse is correct?


Correct Answer: C

Choice A rationale:

Down syndrome is primarily caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, not chromosome 22.

This condition is known as Trisomy 21, where an individual has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of the usual two.

This extra genetic material disrupts normal development and results in the characteristic features of Down syndrome.

Choice B rationale:

Down syndrome is not caused by an error in cell division resulting in an extra copy of chromosome 20.

Trisomy 20 is not associated with Down syndrome.

The genetic basis of Down syndrome is the extra copy of chromosome 21.

Choice D rationale:

Down syndrome is not primarily due to a deletion of chromosome 18.

Deletion of chromosome 18 results in a different genetic disorder known as Edwards syndrome, not Down syndrome.

The primary genetic anomaly in Down syndrome is the presence of an extra chromosome 21.


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