What is a characteristic of mosaic Down Syndrome?

What is a characteristic of mosaic Down Syndrome?

• A. All cells in the body exhibit trisomy 21
• B. Some cells exhibit normal chromosomes while others have trisomy 21
• C. It is exclusively inherited from parents
• D. It coincides exclusively with environmental triggers

Answer: (B)

Mosaic Down Syndrome is characterized by a mixture of normal cells and cells with trisomy 21, which means that in this condition, some cells have the typical number of chromosomes, while others have an extra copy of chromosome 21. This atypical arrangement occurs during cell division early in development, leading to a population of cells with the trisomy and another population without it. This mosaicism can result in a range of symptoms that may be less severe than those seen in standard Down syndrome, where all cells carry the extra chromosome. This characteristic distinguishes mosaic Down syndrome from other forms, such as complete or standard Down syndrome, where every cell possesses the extra chromosome. The condition is not inherited in the same way as genetically linked disorders, and while environmental factors can contribute to some genetic abnormalities, mosaic Down Syndrome primarily arises from random genetic events rather than being solely caused by environmental triggers or inheritance from parents.

Mosaic Down Syndrome is characterized by a mixture of normal cells and cells with trisomy 21, which means that in this condition, some cells have the typical number of chromosomes, while others have an extra copy of chromosome 21. This atypical arrangement occurs during cell division early in development, leading to a population of cells with the trisomy and another population without it. This mosaicism can result in a range of symptoms that may be less severe than those seen in standard Down syndrome, where all cells carry the extra chromosome.

This characteristic distinguishes mosaic Down syndrome from other forms, such as complete or standard Down syndrome, where every cell possesses the extra chromosome. The condition is not inherited in the same way as genetically linked disorders, and while environmental factors can contribute to some genetic abnormalities, mosaic Down Syndrome primarily arises from random genetic events rather than being solely caused by environmental triggers or inheritance from parents.