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'''Down syndrome''' (also written as '''Down's syndrome''') is a genetic disorder caused by an extra [[chromosome]], the chromosome 21.

'''Down syndrome''' (also written as '''Down's syndrome''') is a genetic disorder caused by an extra [[chromosome]], the chromosome 21.

The name comes from [[British]] [[physician]] [[John Langdom Down]], who described the syndrome in [[1862]]. In that time, when racism was considered scientific, Down conjectured that the syndrome was a de-volution (the opposite of [[Theory of Evolution|evolution]]) of caucasians to inferior races, in that case, the "mongol race", and named it '''mongolism''' (hence, the word "mongoloid"). Currently, the terms "mongolism" and "mongoloid" are considered offensive.

The name comes from [[British]] [[physician]] [[John Langdom Down]], who described the syndrome in [[1862]]. Down named the condition '''mongoloism''' because the external appearance of its sufferers resembled the Mongolian race (one of the five racial classifications commonly used at the time). Currently, the terms "mongolism" and "mongoloid" are considered offensive.

The most important medical aspect of Down syndrome is [[mental retardation]]. Individuals with Down syndrome have mild to severe mental retardation (but the cases of extreme mental retardation are usually in those that were abandoned by their unloving parents).

The most important medical aspect of Down syndrome is [[mental retardation]]. Individuals with Down syndrome have mild to severe mental retardation (but the cases of extreme mental retardation are usually in those that were abandoned by their unloving parents).