Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Heart of Down Syndrome



In a recent article, researchers from the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the University of Utah have reported a new study to identify two genes which are known to be responsible for heart defects in people who have down syndrome.  This study was tested by using both fruit flies and mice, which both had these two genes present, which produced much thicker ventricle walls. These two genes are known to work together to interfere with the development of their heart as well as thier heart function.  Although down syndrome has has the most common rate of heart conditions, this disorder effects one in seven hundred births. If there is any possible way to somehow use this new study to find cures to these horrible heart defects, this could help and save lives of many down syndrome patients

1 comment:

  1. This was a very interesting article, its amazing what scientists and researchers can develop. With further studies in this area they may be able to figure out ways to prevent these heart defects in not only people with down syndrome, but other people with heart defects.

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