When the normal pair of two X chromosomes are lacking in a female child, she is said to have Turner syndrome. It is a genetic disorder found only in females which is also known as Gonadal dysgenesis and Monosomy X.
Features :
Children with Turner syndrome will be shorter than normal height and they become infertile due to the absence of regular ovary function. They will not have puberty and their physical growth will be retarded at this stage. Girls with Turner syndrome cannot produce sex hormones called progesterone and hence cannot bear children. Only with the help of external treatment, these girls can attain puberty and have normal breast development.
Their skin would resemble that of webbed neck of the frog. There will be swelling of tissues in their hands and legs (lymphedema) along with elongated bone growth (skeletal abnormalities). Very often those children will have congenital heart problems like valve leakage and heart mumur and kidney problems. They would also get middle ear infection and partial hearing loss in early ages.
However, they will have normal intelligence level and good verbal and communication skills. They are likely to develop diabetes and hypertension at later ages. It is said that one out of every 2,500 child (female) will have such birth defects. The missing gene or X chromosome is responsible for causing these defects in female children.