This may come as a surprise to you, but humans aren’t the only species to have Down syndrome. All sorts of animals can be affected, and they are so completely adorable.
The nucleus in a typical human cell is made of 23 pairs of chromosomes. According to the National Down Syndrome Society, “Down syndrome (also known as trisomy 21) occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.”
Although many animals have a different number of chromosomes in their nuclei, an extra chromosome can have an effect that is similar to its effect in humans. Animals can have a range of degrees of Down syndrome – just like humans. Here are 45 animals with Down syndrome who will melt your heart.