Child Development (EDU 303)

Assignment 1 (Spring 2019)

Total Marks: 20
(Lesson 1 to 09)

Late assignment will not be accepted.

 If the file is corrupt or problematic, it will be awarded zero.

 Plagiarism will never be tolerated. Plagiarism occurs when a student uses work
done by someone else as if it was his or her own; however, taking the ideas from
different sources and expressing them in your own words will be encouraged.
 No assignment will be accepted via e-mail.
 The file should be in Word document form, the font color should be preferably
black and font size should be 12 Times New Roman.

Q1: Explain any four traits and genetic abnormalities in child development?
(2.5*4=10 Marks)

1. Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most widespread inherited genetic disorders. It prominently affects
Caucasians who are Ashkenazi Jews. It occurs only when both parents are carriers, which gives
their children a 1 in 4 risk of contracting the disease. Cystic Fibrosis results when a lack of a certain
protein is present and the balance of chloride in the body isn’t restricted. Symptoms include difficulty
breathing, recurrent lung infections, digestive, and reproductive issues

2. Huntington’s Disease
Huntington’s Disease (HD) causes the degeneration of the nerve cells in the brain and central
nervous system. This hereditary condition is autosomal dominant disorder, meaning that children
have a 50-percent chance of developing it and passing it along to their own children if one of their
own parents has it. Treatment aims to limit the course of the disease. HD typically shows itself when
the individual is between 30 and 40-years old—however, rare forms begin in childhood. Symptoms
of HD include uncontrolled movement (chorea), difficulty swallowing, behavioral changes, difficulty
balancing and walking, memory, speech, and cognitive loss.
3. Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome, a common chromosomal abnormality that effects approximately 1 in 1000
newborns (particularly in older expectant mothers), results when an extra copy of genes occurs on
chromosome 21. Although Downs can be detected by pre-natal testing, babies affected typically
show the following features at birth—decreased muscle tone in the face, developmental delays, and
heart and digestive system defects.

4. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Symptoms of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy typically show themselves before the age of 6. The
condition causes fatigue and weakness of the muscles, which starts in the legs and then gradually
progresses to the upper body, leaving individuals wheelchair bound by the age of 12-years-old. For
some reason the condition affects mostly boys with symptoms such as heart and respiratory
difficulties, deformity of the chest and back, and potential mental retardation.

Q2: Explain any two research method in child development.

(5 +5 = 10Marks)