Humans are more like the X-Men than they ever thought possible. Studies show that every human being of our species has over two hundred mutations built into and extracted from our DNA. A genetic mutation is a perpetual change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene. These mutations can occur in two different ways; they can be acquired during life or inherited from one's biological parents. Some mutations are absolutely harmless; these are the mutations that take up most of the typical human body. However, there are also certain genetic mutations that are harmful to the body. For example, one in six hundred and ninety-one American babies has Down syndrome, a form of genetic mutation. It is estimated that just under six million people worldwide are living with the disease today. Down syndrome is defined as a congenital disorder resulting from a chromosomal abnormality, leading to intellectual disability as well as physical abnormalities. In simpler terms, Down syndrome causes humans to have differences in their physical appearance as well as disability in their mental and learning abilities. This harmful genetic mutation had different causes and effects in different people. Down syndrome occurs when one of three types of abnormal cell divisions involving chromosome 21 occurs. Roger W. Harms, MD, states: “Human cells normally contain twenty-three pairs of chromosomes. One pair comes from your father and one pair comes from your mother. In each pair, one chromosome comes from the father and another from the mother. One of three genetic variations that can cause Down syndrome is trisomy 21. This version of Down syndrome occurs more than 90% of the time. It is...... middle of paper ...... negative impact on the family, the favorable effect it has outweighs the harmful influence. The family may experience a lot of stress and anxiety at first, but ultimately the child helps each member of their family become a better person. Down syndrome, however, has a perilous effect on the child. This places the child in a vulnerable place; the child would present numerous physical disadvantages (developmental delays, etc.) as well as mental health problems (fatigue, mental retardation, etc.). Children with Down syndrome are portrayed as unlucky, and while some are, most turn out to be a beautiful addition to the world. In some cases, the harmful effects of the disease can put children at a greater disadvantage than they should be. So, gaining knowledge about the origins of Down syndrome can help people find an exquisite flower in the stained snow..