For this assignment, I chose Trisomy 13, also known as Patau Syndrome, and consulted WebMD and the U.S. National Library of Medicine for information concerning the occurrence and symptoms of the disorder.
Trisomy 13 is a genetic disorder that results when nondisjunction occurs during the process of meiosis, and causes three copies of the Chromosome 13 to be present in the cells of an individual, rather than the usual two copies. As with any chromosomal abnormality, the risks of an infant having Trisomy 13 significantly increases when the age of the mother is greater than thirty-five. Surgeries and therapy can help to lessen some of the severe symptoms suffered by individuals with Trisomy 13, however there is no cure.
Trisomy 13 occurs in approximately…