Results: Meet Kanako, the 24-year-old chimpanzee with down's syndrome
Published on 03/01/2017
Japanese scientists have documented the second known case of a chimp born with a genetic condition akin to down’s syndrome in humans.
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1.
Blind Kanako was abandoned by her mother and is unable to play with other animals. Kanako, is a 24-year-old female chimpanzee born in captivity. She has a chromosomal defect known as trisomy 22, that has been reported in the case study published in the journal Primates by scientists from Kyoto University in Japan. Are you familiar with this story?
Yes
6%
125 votes
No
94%
1931 votes
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The condition is comparable to the human condition Down's syndrome as they both involve having an extra third copy of one of the chromosomes. Human cells typically contain 23 pairs of chromosomes, making a total of 46. Down syndrome occurs when a person's cells contain a third copy of chromosome 21, hence why it is also known as trisomy 21. Apes normally have 24 pairs of chromosomes, making a total of 48. However, Kanako has three copies of chromosome 22 instead of just two. Prior to reading about Kanako at the beginning of this survey, were you aware of this condition in chimpanzee's?
Yes
5%
113 votes
No
86%
1769 votes
Undecided
8%
174 votes
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Kanako's condition came to light following a trail of evidence that started with a routine physical examination in 2014. After the vets noted some abnormalities, she received an echo-cardiogram that revealed she was also suffering from a defect in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart. This prompted them to carry out chromosomal analysis, which revealed she actually had a third copy of chromosome 22. Footage of Kanako in 2014 from Kumamoto Sanctuary (url included: https://youtu.be/NshvTgdQeKk. If you have read about Kanako's condition from another news source, what general facts are you familiar with?
Kanako was born in captivity in 1992 in a sanctuary that was transferred to Kyoto University in 2011 and named Kumamoto Sanctuary, Wildlife Research Center.
4%
79 votes
Kanako experienced stunted growth from an early age and has congential heart disease, as well as underdeveloped teeth.
5%
100 votes
Kanako developed cataracts before the age of one and became blind by the time she turned 7.
3%
61 votes
She's cross eyed and has a disorder that causes the gradual thinning of her corneas.
2%
48 votes
She has an atrial septal defect (a hole in the wall that separate the top two chambers of the heart).
2%
40 votes
These types of health problems with Kanako are also common in human's who have Down syndrome.
3%
66 votes
Kanako is the longest living chimp with this chromosomal disorder that scientists know of.
2%
32 votes
I am aware of all of these facts.
5%
96 votes
N/A or I am unfamiliar with all of these facts.
82%
1683 votes
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