Turner Syndrome Essay

Register to read the introduction… Turner Syndrome is caused by a partial or complete lack of a single X chromosome. The chromosome could be missing in either all cells, partially there in all cells, or partially there in some cells. It should generally be easy to diagnose, often before birth or a few years later. Some signs of Turner Syndrome may be frequent ear infections and short stature, which should cause a doctor to want to do tests to check. However, many times these symptoms are overlooked even though the syndrome is fairly easy to detect and the symptoms are quite obvious. Turner Syndrome can cause quite a few medical complications such as infertility, two components instead of three in the aortic valve, short stature, cardio-vascular diseases, lack of visual spatial skills, short attention spans, memory loss, Type II Diabetes, hyperthyroidism, learning disabilities, and a higher chance of developing Celiac disease because of a more toxic reaction to gluten. Many affected by Turner Syndrome are uneducated and unaware of their symptoms, so many have low self esteem, depression, and psychological issues (Turner Syndrome Society, …show more content…
Although it is a recessive trait, it still occurs quite frequently. It is still very possible to suffer from Cystic Fibrosis, especially if both of the families of the parents of the offspring have anyone in the lineage with Cystic Fibrosis. Cystic Fibrosis causes excessive mucus that is unusually thick and sticky. The mucus that lines the lungs also is affected, and the thick mucus can lead to lung infections. This mucus also may cause the pancreas to be obstructed, causing it to no longer be able to release enzymes for digestion. Symptoms and signs of cystic fibrosis are or may include: salty tasting skin, excessive coughing, lung infections, shortness of breath, poor growth, and lack of weight gain. Cystic Fibrosis affects about 70,000 people worldwide, 30,000 of which live in the United States. Around 1950, many people that were diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis barely lived past elementary school. Now, many people are living past the age of forty. About 1,000 patients are diagnosed each year, and seventy percent are diagnosed before their second birthday. Over forty-five percent of people that have been diagnosed are legal adults, and they are predicted to live until they are about forty years of age (American Lung Association, …show more content…
The person could have an extra chromosome (Klinefelter syndrome, Trisomy X, Down syndrome, etc.) or they lack a chromosome (Turner syndrome). Aneuploids are believed to be the result of some form of error that occurs during meiosis. This error generally causes a chromosome not to separate, which is called a nondisjunction. Gametes that have extra chromosomes unite with regular chromosome which results in a trisomy. A trisomy chromosome is one that, instead of being diploid, has three chromosomes. If a gamete lacks a chromosome and it bonds with a regular gamete, the result will be a monosomy. A monosomy is when all chromosomes are diploid except one that is singular. Other chromosomes could be added or missing in an aneuploidy, but these are very rare. Many times, aneuploids are lethal in humans and animals, and trisomy or monosomy conditions occur only within a small number of chromosomes (Bob Jones University,