Waardenburg syndrome

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/waardenburg-syndrome

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the estimated prevalence?1 in 42,000 individuals
2. What is the primary genetic defect?Disruption of neural crest cell development and migration
3. Why do people with Waardenburg syndrome have different colored eyes?The genes that control pigment cells are changed, so the cells that give color to the iris may grow differently, making one eye a different color.
4. How can someone know if they have Waardenburg syndrome?Doctors look for signs like different colored eyes, a white patch of hair, skin spots, and hearing loss, and they can do a genetic test to confirm.

Neural Crest Cells: Embryonic cells that migrate to form diverse tissues, including pigment cells, craniofacial structures, and parts of the nervous system.
Melanocytes: Cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that colors skin, hair, and eyes.
Dystopia Canthorum: A lateral displacement of the inner corners of the eyes, creating a wider intercanthal distance.
Hirschsprung's Disease: A congenital condition characterized by the absence of nerve cells in a segment of the large intestine, leading to bowel obstruction.