Genetic Disorders
William's Syndrome
What is William's Syndrome?
Williams Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a series of genes on chromosome 7Q11 being deleted.
Symptoms of Williams Syndrome
Common symptoms are mental retardation, heart defects, and unusual facial features such as, small upturned nose, wide mouth, full lips, small chin, or widely spaced teeth.
Other symptoms are low birth weight, failure to gain weight appropriately, kidney abnormalities, and low muscle tone.
People with this syndrome also have different characteristic behaviors like hypersensitivity to loud noises and an overly outgoing personality.
How do people get Williams Syndrome?
People get Williams syndrome when the sperm or egg cell is developing. A part of the gene is deleted and the child develops this syndrome during fertilization. The parents or any other kids in the family most likely do not have this disease since it is so rare.
Treatment
There is no cure, patients are monitored and treated for the symptoms.
Sites
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/HWRC/hits?docNum=DU2618740362&aci=flag&tcit=1_1_0_1_1_1&index=BA&locID=s0182&rlt=1&origSearch=true&t=KW&s=1&r=d&items=0&secondary=false&o=DateDescend&n=10&l=d&searchTerm=2NTA&c=1&bucket=ref&SU=Williams+syndrome
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/disorders/whataregd/williams/
By Carla Q and Gabby B