Biology Current Events Essay

Submitted By shaexx
Words: 452
Pages: 2

A “cure” for Down's syndrome? Scientists discover compound that reverses learning difficulties caused by the condition.
By: EMMA INNES
PUBLISHED: 09:21 GMT, 5 September 2013 | UPDATED: 09:25 GMT, 5 September 2013

URL: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2412118/A-cure-Downs-syndrome-Scientists-discover-compound-reverses-learning-difficulties-caused-condition.html
The relevance to science/chemistry with this article is that, scientists conducted experiments to find a cure/treatment for children under going Down syndrome.
Summary: The article “A 'cure' for Down's syndrome? Scientists have discovered a compound that reverses learning difficulties caused by the condition” is about a compound used to reverse learning disabilities. This treatment was led by Professor Roger Reeves at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore. It was found that the compound boosts extremely, including the learning ability and memory by being tested by mice with a Down’s syndrome-like condition. They found that a single dose helps the cerebellum of the rodents’ brains to grow to a normal size. For humans, most people with Down syndrome have a cerebellum that is only 60 per cent of the normal size. The scientists involved in the research have warned that use of the compound which is a small molecule scientifically known as a “sonic hedgehog pathway agonist”, has not been proved safe for use in people with Down's syndrome, but say their experiments hold promise for developing drugs like it the “cure” they have found within the mice.
My opinion on this article is that this treatment can be useful for those with children who have Down syndrome and would like an easier future, and lifestyle for their child. My reaction to the cure is that