The most well-known sign of Turner syndrome is that Ringo Starr’s fingers are shorter than those of the other Beatles. However, the syndrome has a lot more signs and symptoms. It is a condition of the chromosomes in which females have only one X chromosome rather than the usual two.
We will study about numerous famous people who have Turner syndrome (TS) because they have been open about the condition throughout their lives and careers, despite the fact that the genes that produce the condition have distinct effects on each of their bodies.
It may be difficult for someone without medical knowledge to recognize celebrities who have Turner syndrome. They give off the impression of being normal people who have nothing wrong with them, but as you will find out very soon, this is not at all the case with them. This article will provide you with an overview of the top 10 famous people who have Turner syndrome.
What is Turner syndrome (TS)?
Turner syndrome (TS), commonly known as congenital ovarian hypoplasia syndrome, is a hereditary condition. It is the type of chromosomal abnormality that affects girls and women more frequently than any other. To be more exact, the issue lies with one of the two X chromosomes, which are thread-like structures formed of DNA that are found inside of cells. Our DNA comes from our parents, and it is the DNA that provides the exact instructions that distinguish one living thing from another. We obtain our DNA from our parents. Approximately 1 in every 2,000 females are affected by this illness.
Individuals who do not have Turner syndrome have 46 chromosomes, two of which are sex chromosomes. In females, there are two copies of the X chromosome. On the other hand, those who have Turner syndrome do not have any of the parts that make up a second chromosome. There are instances in which the entire chromosome is missing.
It is estimated that 1 in every 2,500 girls is born with the illness, but it most likely affects more pregnancies that do not make it to term. It is estimated that over 70,000 women in the United States suffer from TS. There is a marginal decrease in life expectancy compared to what it would be for most people.
DNA, also known as chromosomes, may be found in each and every cell in the human body. Chromosomes are made up of many individual DNA molecules. The instructions that are contained in chromosomes are what are responsible for a human being’s behavioral and physical features.
Types of Turner syndrome
There are two different forms of Turner syndrome, which are as follows:
- Classical Turner syndrome: An X chromosome is totally absent in classical Turner syndrome.
- Mosaic Turner syndrome, mosaicism, or Turner mosaicism: This are conditions in which abnormalities only occur in the X chromosome of certain of the body’s cells.
Celebrities with Turner Syndrome
The answer is yes; there are a significant number of well-known people, notable personalities, and celebrities who have Turner syndrome. Keep reading if you want to find out.
1. Linda Hunt
Lydia Susanna Hunter is a character who appears in the hit CBS series ‘NCIS: Los Angeles,’ so it’s likely that you’re already aware of her.
Nevertheless, you might not be aware that this American actress of film, tv, and the stage is one of the well-known people in the public eye who has Turner syndrome.
She began her professional life as a singer, but the film adaptation of Popeye was the role that catapulted her to stardom in Hollywood.
She is the recipient of thirteen honors, including the Teen Choice Award in 2012 and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1984, among others.
2. Nicole Scherzinge
This American singer and actress is one of the celebrities with Turner syndrome who have established a name for themselves in the entertainment industry in Hollywood. Donna (née Lau) and Joseph Valiente welcomed their daughter Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente into the world on June 29, 1978. Her father is of Puerto Rican descent, and her mother is of German, Irish, French, Dutch, and Hawaiian origin.
The part she played as a member of The Pussycat Dolls, together with Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt, is the one that has brought her the most fame.
Between 2005 and 2010, the group was together for a total of six years and during that time they earned success on a global scale.
3. Dr. Catherine Ward Melver
Geneticist Dr. Catherine Ward-Melver works at the Akron Children’s Hospital in Ohio. She was born with Turner syndrome. She was born with Turner syndrome and stands at a height of 4 feet 8 inches. Ward-Melver, a former president of the Turner Syndrome Society, is one of the country’s foremost experts.
When Ward-Melver first started medical school, she had never before encountered another girl who also had Turner syndrome. However, she recently adopted 4-year-old Zoe, who also has the disorder.
Zoe arrived from China last winter and has delighted her new family. Because she was not raised in an orphanage but rather in a foster home by American parents in China, the young girl speaks English as her first language.
Not only does Ward-Melver want her daughter to have the finest possible medical care, but she also wants her to make supportive connections with other girls who have Turner syndrome. The forty-year-old Ward-Melver stated, “We are having a lot of fun.” “Overall, it’s been relatively very easy for this little girl, especially her age. She has opinions and she is not afraid to voice them. She bonded with us very quickly, much more quickly than we expected.”
4. Missy Marlowe
Another well-known person in the entertainment industry who has Turner syndrome and has achieved a lot in her life is Missy Marlowe.
She was a member of the United States team that competed in artistic gymnastics at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis, and she was also a participant in the event.
She was selected for the squad that would go on to become co-champions, she earned various honors, and she even triumphed over Sabrina Mar.
Her accomplishment of winning the world championship in gymnastics is among her most notable achievements. At the moment, she is no longer actively working but does volunteer work for the Turner Syndrome Society as a spokesperson.
5. Janette Cranky
The Turner syndrome that Janette Krankie was born with kept her from ever reaching a height greater than 4 feet and 5.5 inches, but that did not stop her from becoming one of the most well-known celebrities with the condition.
She began her career in 1947 and is most recognized for her parts in the films The Krankies Klub (1982), The Krankies Elektronik Komik (1985), and TV’s Funniest Music Moments. She was born in Scotland (2008).
In 1969, she got married. Her on-stage accident in 2004 resulted in her being hospitalized, and she is now in a period of semi-retirement.
In spite of this, she and her husband Ian Tough participated in a charity film for Comic Relief in the year 2007.
6. Natalie Gulbis
As a child, Natalie Gulbis, a professional golfer from the United States, was given a diagnosis of Turner syndrome. Today, she competes at the highest level of the sport.
On November 26, 1983, she was born to Dr. Steven and Lisa Gulbis as their first child. She is a model who has also achieved success as a professional golfer, and she is now ranked in the top nine of the Women’s World Golf Rankings.
7. Saoirse Ronan
Monica (née Brennan) and Paul Ronan welcomed their daughter Una Ronan into the world on April 12th, 1994 in Dublin, Ireland.
Both of her parents are involved in the theater industry; her father manages stages, and her mother manages theatrical shows.
Her performance as Briony Tallis in the film Atonement (2007), for which she received, among other honors, a nomination for a BAFTA Award, is the one for which she is most recognized.
She has been diagnosed with Turner syndrome.
What causes Turner Syndrome?
A girl receives one X chromosome from her mother and one from her father; but, in rare cases, a female will be born without one of her X chromosomes, which will result in Turner syndrome. Nondisjunction, which happens when a pair of x chromosomes don’t separate during the process of creating sperm, is the primary cause of the disorder. Nondisjunction is the most common cause of the disorder.
It is still possible for this sperm to interact with an egg to produce an embryo with a single copy of the X chromosome. Even as the embryo develops and its cells split, there will not be an X chromosome present in it. Because it is very difficult for women who have Turner syndrome to become pregnant, this chromosomal abnormality does not get passed down from parent to child. Approximately twenty percent of patients with Turner syndrome have two X chromosomes; however, one of these chromosomes is flawed and commonly takes the form of a ring. This condition is known as Turner syndrome.
On the other hand, approximately thirty percent of women who have this syndrome have cells in which an entire X chromosome is missing. As a result of the fact that some of these girls’ cells contain both chromosomes, they won’t display as many symptoms as other people might.
Living with Turner syndrome
If you’ve been diagnosed with Turner syndrome, you can still live a healthy life. There is no cure, but there are therapies that can help you feel better and live longer.
Children with Turner syndrome may benefit from growth hormone injections to help them grow taller. Hormone therapy can also help with secondary sex characteristics such as breasts and pubic hair development. It’s commonly given at the beginning of puberty.
Women who are unable to conceive due to Turner syndrome can use donor eggs to conceive. For additional information about various methods, your gynecologist can send you to a fertility specialist.
Finding a support group for women with the condition or speaking with a counselor can help you deal with emotional issues as well as any other issues that arise as a result of your condition.
Conclusion
Turner syndrome sufferers experience prejudice due to their physical appearance. There is a possibility that they also suffer from other disorders of anxiety or depression. A number of famous people who suffer from Turner syndrome have acknowledged that the thought of disclosing their disease to the world triggered panic attacks in them.
Problems with renal function and impotence, on the other hand, can be treated, but undesirable physical characteristics, such as a webbed neck or short stature, cannot be changed. Many people who have Turner syndrome have children and have relatively normal lives once they come to terms with the fact that they have the condition.
