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Fragile X Syndrome Synthesis Essay

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Fragile X Syndrome, also known as FRAXA syndrome, fra(X) syndrome, FXS, marker X syndrome, or Martin Bell syndrome, is a disorder onset by a genetic mutation in the FMR1 gene. This gene produces a protein called FMRP which regulates the production of other proteins and plays a role in the development of synapses, which are specialized connections between nerve cells (National Library of Medicine, 2014). The FMR1 gene has a DNA segment called CGG triple repeat, which is repeated about 5 to 40 times in a typically developing individual. There are two type of mutations associated with Fragile X: A full gene mutation and a gene premutation. In cases of individuals with a full gene mutation, the CGG segment is repeated more than 200 times (National Library of Medicine, 2014). …show more content…

This lack of protein causes deficiencies in the relaying of nerve impulses which then leads to an individual displaying the physical and developmental symptoms specific to this syndrome. Most males and about half of females with a full gene mutation have characteristics such as a narrow face, large ears, a prominent jaw and forehead and unusually flexible fingers, and even flat feet and low muscle tone due to associated problems with connective tissues (National Library of Medicine, 2014). Males tend to have a mild to moderate intellectual disability, while only one-third of affected females are intellectually disabled (National Library of Medicine). Individuals also suffer from behavioral problems that include things such attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, obsessive-compulsive fidgeting or impulsive actions, unstable and disproportionate emotional displays, aggressive and self-injurious behavior related to difficult temperament, and features of autism spectrum disorders like hand-flapping and poor eye contact (Hersh & Saul,

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