What is Turner Syndrome and what causes it?

Hello Anonymous,

Thank you for your question. Turner syndrome is a chromosomal condition that affects development in females. Most cases are not inherited. Rarely, Turner syndrome caused by a partial deletion of the X chromosome can be passed from one generation to the next.

Turner syndrome is related to the X chromosome, which is one of the two sex chromosomes. People typically have two sex chromosomes in each cell. Females have two X chromosomes, while males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome.

Turner syndrome results when one normal X chromosome is present in a female's cells and the other sex chromosome is missing or structurally altered. The missing genetic material affects development before and after birth.

About half of individuals with Turner syndrome have monosomy X, which means each cell in the individual's body has only one copy of the X chromosome instead of the usual two sex chromosomes.

Turner syndrome can also occur if one of the sex chromosomes is partially missing or rearranged rather than completely absent. Some women with Turner syndrome have a chromosomal change in only some of their cells, which is known as mosaicism.

Women with Turner syndrome caused by X chromosome mosaicism are said to have mosaic Turner syndrome.

To learn more about Turner syndrome, read this article "What is Turner Syndrome" https://www.empowher.com/turner-syndrome/content/what-turner-syndrome

Regards,
Maryann