Department of Biology LOG A

Group name : Iden Gakusha (Geneticist) Date: 11/9/2014

Members absent (reason) : None

What I know? (Group) Discussion/ Issues / Driving Question (Group) Person in charge
What advices should be given to the
pregnant mother and her families?
There are a lot of advices that we could give to the pregnant mother who
knew that she is carrying the down syndrome baby. Some of the advices
that could be given are ask the mother to eat healthy food and take care of
her health and the baby. Besides, we should aware about her emotion as
this is the difficult stage of her life. Thus, try to give her a lot of motivation
so that she do not feel depressed and trauma. Next, if she is Muslim, try to
confess to her the verse from Quranic Ayat to calm her. An example of
Quranic Ayat that could be given are :

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you.
But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps
you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah
knows, while you know not.
(Surah al-Baqarah: Verse 216)

Furthermore, ask the pregnant mother to talk with other parents who have
the down syndromes kids. It may help the mother to deal with the initial
shock and find that learning as much as they can about Down Syndrome
helps ease some of their fears. Besides, ask the mother, husband, and all of
the family members to learn as much as possible about her childs
condition and prepare themselves before the baby is born. This can help
them to understand more as the child grows and develops. Next, explain to
them that many states provide early intervention services to kids with
disabilities from born to age 3 and help her check with her doctor or social
worker to learn what resources are available in her area. Once her child is 3
years old, he or she is guaranteed educational services under the Individual
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Wan Nur Asyilah Binti
Wan Mohd Zahid
Department of Biology LOG A

Group name : Iden Gakusha (Geneticist) Date: 11/9/2014
Members absent (reason) : None

What I know? (Group) Discussion/ Issues / Driving Question (Group) Person in charge
Is there any organisation that can
help down syndromes kids in
Malaysia?
There are many organisation that are concerned with Down Syndromes
kids. Some of organisation that can help are Malaysian Down Syndrome
Association and The Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation. Malaysian Down
Syndrome Association consist of a group of concerned parents, some
medical professional and some individuals. This association is a non-profit
organization looking into the welfare of person with Down Syndrome, their
parents, guardians and their immediate families. The syndrome kids can
have the classes provide by this association daily from 9 a.m to 4 p.m,
Monday to Saturday.
Next, Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation is also non- profit organization
with tax attempt status. Its main focus is for education of Down Syndrome
children below 6 years old.

Wan Nur Asyilah Binti
Wan Mohd Zahid
Department of Biology LOG A

Group name : Iden Gakusha (Geneticist) Date: 11/9/2014
Members absent (reason) : None

What I know? (Group) Discussion/ Issues / Driving Question (Group) Person in charge
Should the pregnant mother abort
the down syndrome baby?
There are many argument about should the pregnant abort the down
syndrome or not. In Islamic point of view, it should be no. This is because
Islam value every single life in this world. In Quranic Ayat:

and Thou shalt not kill and do not take any life, which
God has made sacred, except by way of (Haq) and law ;
thus does He command you, that you may learn wisdom
(Surah Al Anam;Verse 151)

It is clearly state that all form of life as sacred to God and that murder is
forbidden as it is listed as one of the seven greatest sins in Islam.

There are also another point of view made by scientist around the world
who argue about this. One of the example is from Richard Dawkins. From
his own perspective, it is immoral not to abort if the foetus have Downs
Syndrome. He said that a mother has a responsibility to abort the foetus
and try pregnant again if she know her baby would have disorder.

But from our own opinion, the mother should not abort the foetus as it is
clearly stated in al-Quran that murder is forbidden. Next, there are so many
mothers who have Down Syndromes baby happy and feel grateful when
they decide to not abort the baby. Most of them agree that it is just
overwhelming the love can be for a child that we probably did not plan on.
Wan Nur Asyilah Binti
Wan Mohd Zahid
Department of Biology LOG A

Group name : Iden Gakusha (Geneticist) Date: 11/9/2014
Members absent (reason) : None