# Down's Syndrome - Heritable Trait?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 29, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263 "2001-01-29T14:44:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![eponymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@eponymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eponymous)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/1 "2001-01-29T14:44:09Z")

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Is Down’s Syndrome a heritable trait? What causes it? Genetic or environmental factors? Any sources/information would be appreciated.

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**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/2 "2001-01-29T14:55:27Z")

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Here’s a UK web site:  
[http://www.dsa-uk.com](http://www.dsa-uk.com)

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**Author:** ![Azazel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Azazel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azazel)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/3 "2001-01-29T14:56:54Z")

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This is a very informative site on the subject-  
[http://www.ds-health.com/trisomy.htm](http://www.ds-health.com/trisomy.htm)

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**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/4 "2001-01-29T14:59:19Z")

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Here’s one more. A Google search turned up a lot.  
[http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/03788.html](http://www.encyclopedia.com/articles/03788.html)

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**Author:** ![eponymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e0b2c6/32.png) [@eponymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eponymous)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/5 "2001-01-29T17:55:55Z")

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Thanks All!!!

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**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\
**Post date:** [January 29, 2001, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/6 "2001-01-29T20:22:13Z")

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I haven’t read the links, so forgive me if I repeat somthing. I’m sure they covered the normal way of getting Down syndrome, but there can be familial Downs. This happens when most of the 23rd chromosome gets translocated onto the end of the (I think) 17th chromosome. In families with this condition, Downs occurs regularly.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/downs-syndrome-heritable-trait/52263/7 "2001-01-30T03:18:47Z")

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THe 17:23 form of Down’s occurs in something like 4% of the cases IIRC. SOme people are also probably more likely to form trisomies, most of which take care of themselves.