Genetic studies help us to understand why some people develop certain diseases while others don't and also provide important clues about how best to treat the disease.
Down syndrome (DS) occurs in roughly 1 out of 700 births in the U.S. Half of all children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease (CHD), often requiring corrective heart surgery. Even though CHD in children without DS is known to be associated with developmental problems, few studies have explored how CHD can affect the development and behavior of…