Whether a fetus will be born with Down syndrome is related to
A) the age of the mother at the time of pregnancy.
B) the presence of specific amino acids in the mother's diet.
C) overexposure to toxins during pregnancy.
D) ingestion of drugs and alcohol by the father prior to conception.
E) the uterine environment during pregnancy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The likelihood of a fetus being born with Down syndrome is significantly higher when the mother is over the age of 35 at the time of pregnancy. This is because, as women age, there is a higher chance of abnormal cell division during the formation of the egg cell, which can lead to extra genetic material in the resulting embryo. Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of genetic material on chromosome 21, and this extra copy is more likely to occur in older mothers.

Whether a Fetus Will Be Born with Down Syndrome Is