Margaret did her steam project on Williams syndrome and the syptorms that the syndrome causes. Williams syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects genes. It causes deletion of approximately 27 genes and she explained the processes of meiosis and mitosis to explain what occurs to create chromosomal deficiencies such as Williams syndrome. The chromosomal deficiencies occur when the cell does not receive the entire copy of a chromosome. She made a doll that displayed the effects that the syndrome can have on a child. The doll has stitches that show the physical characteristics of the syndrome which include growth abnormalities, star eyes, size, and some facial features. Margaret also explained the effects that aren’t visible which include intellectual disabilities, a social personality, hypercalcemia, low bone density, and softer or deformed bones. Above the heart of the doll, she showed how there’s a missing part of the heart which is the deletion of chromosome 7. Margaret then went on to explain how the syndrome affects the bones. Williams syndrome causes the body to have trouble breaking down vitamin D and calcium which are both extremely important to maintain bone health. Due to this, children are placed on a strict low calcium diet and no added vitamin D. This diet heavily affects bone density, as the production of osteoclasts is high and the osteoblasts can’t rebuild which causes the bones to have problems. In conclusion, Margaret did a great job at displaying both the physical and internal characteristics of Williams syndrome.
Margaret did her steam project on Williams syndrome and the syptorms that the syndrome causes. Williams syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects genes. It causes deletion of approximately 27 genes and she explained the processes of meiosis and mitosis to explain what occurs to create chromosomal deficiencies such as Williams syndrome. The chromosomal deficiencies occur when the cell does not receive the entire copy of a chromosome. She made a doll that displayed the effects that the syndrome can have on a child. The doll has stitches that show the physical characteristics of the syndrome which include growth abnormalities, star eyes, size, and some facial features. Margaret also explained the effects that aren’t visible which include intellectual disabilities, a social personality, hypercalcemia, low bone density, and softer or deformed bones. Above the heart of the doll, she showed how there’s a missing part of the heart which is the deletion of chromosome 7. Margaret then went on to explain how the syndrome affects the bones. Williams syndrome causes the body to have trouble breaking down vitamin D and calcium which are both extremely important to maintain bone health. Due to this, children are placed on a strict low calcium diet and no added vitamin D. This diet heavily affects bone density, as the production of osteoclasts is high and the osteoblasts can’t rebuild which causes the bones to have problems. In conclusion, Margaret did a great job at displaying both the physical and internal characteristics of Williams syndrome.