Cockayne syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by growth failure, impaired development of the The nervous system of an animal coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and processes input from the senses, and initiates actions. (see Central Nervous System). In animals with brains, the nervous system also generates and conducts thoughts and emotions. Thus it is the system that animates... nervous system, abnormal sensitivity to Sunlight is also the trade name of the worlds first packaged, branded laundry soap producted by Lever Brothers. Prism splitting light Sunlight in the broad sense is the total spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered by the atmosphere, and the solar... sunlight (photosensitivity), and premature Ageing or aging is the process of getting older. This article focuses the social, cultural, and economic effects of ageing. The biology of ageing is treated in detail in senescence. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and... aging. Hearing loss and This article refers to the sight organ. See Eye (disambiguation) for other usages. Diagram of a human eye. Note that not all eyes have the same anatomy as a human eye. An eye is an organ that detects light. Different kinds of light-sensitive organ are found in a variety... eye abnormalities are other common features, but problems with any or all of the internal organs are possible. Cockayne syndrome is inherited in an In genetics, the term recessive gene refers to an allele that causes a phenotype (visible or detectable characteristic) that is only seen in a homozygous genotype (an organism that has two copies of the same allele). Every person has two copies of every gene, one from mother and one from... autosomal recessive pattern.

Cockayne syndrome can be divided into subtypes, which are distinguished by the severity and age of onset of symptoms. Classical, or type I, Cockayne syndrome is characterized by an onset of symptoms in early childhood (usually after the age of 1 year). Cockayne syndrome, type II (sometimes called COFS) is an early-onset form, with severe symptoms that are apparent at birth ( A congenital disorder is a medical condition or defect that is present at or before birth (for example, congenital heart disease). These conditions can be a result of heredity or environmental factors - meaning a congenital condition could be acquired during the fetal stage of development, or as a result of... congenital). A few cases of type III Cockayne syndrome, which has mild symptoms and onset in late childhood, have been reported. Some individuals have combined features of Cockayne syndrome and another photosensitivity disorder called Xeroderma pigmentosum is a genetic disorder of DNA repair which leads to multiple basaliomas and other skin malignancies at a young age. Very severe cases avoid all sunlight. There are eight types. You can learn more about Xeroderma Pigmentosum from The XP Society, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit... xeroderma pigmentosum, which is characterized by a wide variety of skin changes, from mild Freckles are small brownish spots of melanin on human skin in people of fair complexion, predominantly found on the face. Predisposition to freckles is genetic, though exposure to sunlight is a factor in how many appear. The gene for freckling is related to the presence of red hair. External links... freckling to In medicine (dermatology), there are several different types of cancer referred to under the general label of skin cancer. The most common types are squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, while the most dangerous is malignant melanoma. Skin cancer is an increasingly common condition, in part attributed to increased... skin cancer.

Mutations in the ERCC6 and ERCC8 genes cause Cockayne syndrome. The A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. This protein was the first to have its structure solved by X-ray crystallography by Max Perutz and Sir John Cowdery Kendrew in 1958, which led to them receiving a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. A protein (in Greek... proteins made by the ERCC8 and ERCC6 genes are involved in DNA damage resulting in multiple broken chromosomes DNA repair is a process constantly operating in each cell of a living being; it is essential to survival because it protects the genome from damage. In human cells, both normal metabolic activities and environmental factors (such as UV rays) can cause DNA... repairing damaged DNA replication Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid which is capable of carrying genetic instructions for the biological development of all cellular forms of life and many viruses. DNA is sometimes referred to as the molecule of heredity as it is inherited and used to propagate traits. During reproduction... DNA, particularly the DNA in active genes. If either the ERCC8 or the ERCC6 gene is altered, DNA damage is not repaired. As this damage accumulates, it can lead to malfunctioning cells or Programmed cell death (PCD) is the deliberate suicide of an unwanted cell in a multicellular organism. In contrast to necrosis, which is a form of cell death that results from acute tissue injury and provokes an inflammatory response, PCD is carried out in a regulated process that generally confers advantages... cell death, and the signs and symptoms of Cockayne syndrome.

This article incorporates public domain text from The U.S. National Library of Medicine (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov)