google “Animals with Down Syndrome” If you type it, you will see many different types of animal images, from cats to bears. Some even have Instagram accounts and thousands of followers!

How come a disease related to human chromosomes, in animals of different species from us can it be seen? Or do we think so?

First, let’s briefly discuss Down syndrome.

Our chromosomes are the smallest gene packages in our body. It determines how the baby’s body takes shape and functions as it develops during pregnancy and after birth. in a typical person The chromosome number is 46, but for people with Down syndrome, the situation changes at this point.

Babies with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome called “chromosome 21”. This extra chromosome can affect the development of people’s brains and bodies. behavioral and mental abilities it also changes negatively.

Some of the animals that appear on social media as “animals with Down syndrome” include:

Cat

The White Tiger

Bear

Dog

Koala

Let’s go to our main topic. Is Down syndrome really possible in animals?

Animals are very similar to Down syndrome. physical and developmental disabilities They may have the same genetic defect as humans, but may not have the same genetic disorder as humans.

If an animal has the 21st chromosome, it must exhibits exactly the same syndrome as a human Does not mean. In fact, many animals don’t even have a 21st chromosome! For example, cats only have 19 chromosomes.

Let’s start with the animals that most resemble humans.

Monkeys have 24 pairs of chromosomes and their 22nd chromosome is very similar to the 21st chromosome in humans. Monkeys with an extra 22nd chromosome also develop symptoms similar to Down’s syndrome, but scientists still don’t label this condition as “Down’s syndrome.” “Similar to Down syndrome” it can be tried. Basically, the functions are similar but different in structure.

In some animals the situation is very different.

In some animals that appear to have Down syndrome independent of their chromosomes, generation inbreeding factors may play a role.

For example, the white tiger named Kenny, which we saw above, was unfortunately owned by a breeder who mistreated him. grower; tigers, unethical he was mating all the time, and you guessed it was all inbreeding. Because of his appearance, those who saw him thought he had Down syndrome.

The Turkish ‘cat with Down syndrome’ Otto was also talked about all over the world.

We said at the beginning that cats have 19 chromosomes. So we don’t even have to talk about the possibility that Otto has Down syndrome, but… abnormal facial features has never been clearly explained. Estimates are that it is caused by a genetic mutation or a hormone deficiency.

Finally, we’re going to bug you a little bit about the cat, who was recently on the agenda with the hashtag “Down Syndrome” on social media, but then your joy will return when you read the tweets that came to the cat.

The British Shorthair cat mentioned earlier is already a cat that has been genetically modified to “appease the eye” and unfortunately the breed has abnormal genetics, even though we may not realize it. They are in constant physical pain.

When we produce animals, we encounter it this way. genetic mutations it can come out. “Don’t breed, but adopt from the street!” After saying our tagline, let’s go back to the reactions to the tweet: