Genetic Developmental Disorders

Photographs

  Down Syndrome

 Fragile X
 

 Turner
 

A teratogen is …

any environmental influence that adversely affects the normal development of the fetus.

  FAS

There are four different teratogen categories:

·     physical agents

·     metabolic conditions of the mother

·     infection

·    drugs and alcohol

A dramatic example of a teratogen is thalidomide. In the early 1960s it was shown that more than 7,000 women who took the anti-nausea drug thalidomide during their pregnancy had children with very short or absent arms and legs, the absence of ears, as well as heart and intestinal malformations.

Partial list of teratogens

More Resources

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