Edwards syndrome

This is trisomy 18 syndrome. There are three instead of the normal two chromosomes #18. Children with this condition have multiple malformations and mental retardation due to the extra chromosome #18. The children characteristically have low birth weight, small head (microcephaly), small jaw (micrognathia), malformations of the heart and kidneys, clenched fists with abnormal finger positioning, and malformed feet. The mental retardation is profound with the IQ too low to even test. Nineteen out of 20 (95%) of these children die before their first birthday. The condition is named after the British physician and geneticist John Edwards who discovered the extra chromosome in 1960.

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Ed·wards syndrome 'ed-wərdz- n trisomy 18

Edwards John Hilton (b 1928)

British geneticist. Edwards served as professor of human genetics at Birmingham University from 1969 to 1979 and at Oxford University from 1979 to 1995. He was the author of Human Genetics (1978) as well as numerous papers on a variety of topics in the field. His discovery of trisomy 18 in 1960 led to the association of his name with the syndrome.

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Ed·wards syndrome (edґwərdz) [J.H. Edwards, British physician, 20th century] trisomy 18 syndrome.