Nature Podcast

Children with Down's syndrome are more likely to get leukaemia: stem-cells hint at why

Sep 25, 2024

Discover how children with Down's syndrome face a 150-fold increased risk of leukaemia due to genetic factors linked to chromosome 21. Researchers investigate fetal liver stem cells and their role in DNA packaging, shedding light on leukaemia susceptibility. Meanwhile, learn about innovative studies showing that smaller beer servings can curtail alcohol intake, and meet Costa Rican lizards equipped with self-made air supplies for underwater survival. Plus, explore how tiny crustaceans use scent to navigate and the potential of nuclear techniques in asteroid deflection.

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Quick takeaways

Children with Down syndrome face a significant 150-fold increased risk of leukemia due to genetic mutations during fetal liver stem-cell development.

Research indicates that structural changes in chromatin caused by an extra chromosome influence blood cell differentiation, heightening leukemia susceptibility.

Deep dives

Understanding leukemia risk in children with Down syndrome

Children with Down syndrome have a significantly heightened risk of developing leukemia, particularly in the first five years of life, with a 150-fold increase compared to their peers. This risk is believed to originate during fetal development, as genetic mutations and changes in blood cell production are observed early on. Research reveals that hematopoietic stem cells, which give rise to various blood cells, demonstrate altered behaviors influenced by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. Overall, these insights emphasize the need for further investigation into the genetic and developmental pathways leading to this elevated leukemia risk.

Intro

2min

Leukemia Risk in Down Syndrome: Unraveling Fetal Origins

10min

Research Highlights: Reducing Beer Consumption and Aquatic Adaptations in Lizards

3min

Navigating with Smell: The Mycids' Remarkable Journey

3min

Nuclear Innovation: Asteroid Deflection Experiments

3min

Exploring Asteroid Deflection Techniques and Future Research

2min

In this episode:

00:46 Unravelling why children with Down’s syndrome are at a higher risk of leukaemia

Children with Down’s syndrome have a 150-fold increased risk of developing leukaemia than those without the condition. Now, an in-depth investigation has revealed that changes to genome structures in fetal liver stem-cells appear to be playing a key role in this increase.

Down’s syndrome is characterised by cells having an extra copy of chromosome 21. The team behind this work saw that in liver stem-cells — one of the main places blood is produced in a growing fetus — this extra copy results in changes in how DNA is packaged in a nucleus, opening up areas that are prone to mutation, including those known to be important in leukaemia development.

The researchers hope their work will be an important step in understanding and reducing this risk in children with Down’s syndrome.

Research Article: Marderstein et al.

News and Views: Childhood leukaemia in Down’s syndrome primed by blood-cell bias