Down Syndrome Discovery: Breakthrough May Prevent the Disorder
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Erna Vader/Getty Images(BOSTON) — People with Down syndrome are born with three chromosomes instead of the usual two. But researchers at the University of Massachusetts say they’ve been able to shut down that extra chromosome — essentially, turning off the defective gene.
So far, it’s only been done on cells grown in a lab.
Doctors hope not only to be able to prevent the disorder, but to find new ways to fight it.
The disorder is found in one of 700 newborns every year.
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