It is Possible for 2 people with Downs Syndrome to produce a child that has all 46 chromosomes?

Question

i am debating with a friend wether it is possible or not, can someone tell us how it can happen ?or why not?

if they are sterile. and i want to know why,not a yes or no answer.

Answer 1

Lots of misinformation out there based on some of the answers.

1) both men and women with Down syndrome can be fertile, however their fertility rates can be significantly reduced, especially in males.

2) when you say "all 46 chromosomes" it would appear that you misunderstand what Down syndrome is. People with Down syndrome have all 46 chromosomes...plus and extra 21st chromosome. Trisomy-21 (aka Down syndrome) is one of the few Trisomy conditions which is compatible with life.

3) People with Down syndrome, in adulthood, are capable and have every right to have intimate relationships including marriage and sexual relationships. It is therefore important that they be taught about such relationships and the responsibilities that go with them, including contraception. I know of at least one married couple with DS who decided that they did not feel capable of raising a child, so the woman had a tubal ligation.

Where one parent has Down's syndrome, there is a 35% to 50% chance that the child would inherit the syndrome. Obviously if both parents have DS, that number increases, but it is not impossible for them to have a child without Down syndrome.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

Yes, people with Downs have 47 chromosomes instead of the normal 46. They have three of the 21st chromosome intstead of 2 It's just a shot in the dark type abnormality. The odds are they'd have a chromosomally healthy child.

Answer 3

No because neither of them has the 46 chromosomes themselves. How could they give them all to their child?

Answer 4

most people with Downs are sterile. I wanna say all are, but its always dangerous to say something is definate.

Answer 5

the majority if not all are sterile.