Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Williams Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, occurring in fewer than 1 in every 20,000 live births. It is characterized by a distinctive, "elfin" facial appearance, an unusually cheerful demeanor, ease with strangers, mental retardation coupled with an unusual facility with language, a love for music, cardiovascular problems such as aortic stenosis, and hypercalcemia. Most children with Williams Syndrome are missing genetic material on chromosome 7. This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.