Knowra Teratology Teratology Teratology is the study of abnormal development, especially congenital structural or functional abnormalities and the genetic, environmental, and biological factors that cause them.
Embryogenesis : The process by which an embryo forms and develops from a fertilized egg. Teratogenic effects arise when development is disrupted during this process.
Thalidomide : A drug whose use during pregnancy caused severe limb and other birth defects in thousands of children. Its effects exposed the danger of evaluating medicines without adequate developmental testing.
Congenital disorder : A disorder present from birth, whether caused by genetic, environmental, developmental, or unknown factors. Teratology focuses on developmental causes within this broader group of conditions.
Diethylstilbestrol : A synthetic estrogen given to some pregnant women that was later linked to reproductive tract abnormalities in exposed offspring. It illustrates developmental effects that may emerge long after prenatal exposure.
Developmental toxicity testing : Methods used to assess whether chemicals or other agents harm embryonic or fetal development. Testing strategies must predict human effects from limited experimental evidence.
Critical period : A developmental interval when a particular tissue or organ is especially susceptible to disruption. The same exposure can cause different outcomes depending on when it occurs.
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder : A range of lifelong physical, cognitive, and behavioral effects associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. It demonstrates that a prenatal exposure can affect function as well as structure.
Morphogenesis : The biological process by which cells and tissues acquire organized shapes and structures. Disruption of morphogenesis can produce structural abnormalities.
Fetal hydantoin syndrome : A pattern of growth, facial, and developmental abnormalities associated with prenatal exposure to phenytoin. It links a specific medication exposure with a recognizable pattern of effects.
Animal testing : The use of nonhuman animals in research to study biology, disease, or the effects of substances. Species differences complicate translating developmental toxicity findings to human pregnancy.
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