Do the father’s age and mother’s age affect the baby, or can the father’s age cause down syndrome in a baby?
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Hello, I am 29years old, female. I am 3 months pregnant. My husband is 37 years old. I was reading articles related to pregnancy like what should avoid and what should I do. I came across this article which was related to down syndrome, according to that father’s and mother’s age affects/increases the possibility of down syndrome in kids. Is it true? Do the father’s age and mother’s age impact the baby, or can the father’s age cause down syndrome in a baby? Should I be worried?
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@tapii Hello, a baby inherits genetic information from both from its parents in 46 chromosomes, typically 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. Chromosomes hold our genes, which carry the information that determines how our bodies look and work, including traits from our relatives like hair and eye color. Down syndrome, a child gets an extra chromosome 21for a total of 47 chromosomes instead of 46. Rarely, the extra chromosome 21 attaches to another chromosome. This extra genetic material causes physical features and developmental delays in people with Down syndrome. The features are no different if the extra chromosome is by itself or attached to another one. According to some studies, paternal age combined with maternal age significantly influences the incidence of Down syndrome but more research is needed. If you have any doubts please talk to your doctor. Thanks.