Essays on Teratogen

Human Development:

Abnormal Genes and Chromosomes, and Teratogens Human development involves the growth of a zygote to maturity in a gradual process. A series of complex changes occurs within human bodies as development takes place. For instance, cells multiply either through meiosis or mitosis. The genetic makeup of cells also replicates. Normally, chromosomes will be separated to allow for replication of genes within cells. This process is very important during development. However, some abnormalities occur to genes and chromosomes due to teratogens. Teratogens are substances that interfere with the normal fetus or embryo growth and development, whereby they lead to their ...

Teratogens are genotoxins that can potentially disrupt the genetic makeup of developing cells, resulting in aberrations that can manifest disabling physical and mental abnormalities in a fetus. Teratogens can cross the placenta and reach the fetus, which quashes the popular belief that a fetus is shielded from external harmful influences. This indicates that the placenta is incapable of blocking teratogenic metabolites from reaching the fetus. Teratogenesis can be defined as birth defects or congenital malformations occurring in utero due to exposure to external factors. Such factors could be environmental, chemical or biological in nature. Factors such as the time of exposure, ...

1. Ecosystems. (10 pts) Provide a review of the process of succession and trends in biodiversity, productivity, and nutrient cycling. Ecological succession refers to the process of gradual change of the ecosystems. This is attributed to the fact that habitats do not remain constant and they keep changing over time. Succession is divided into two; there is primary succession and secondary succession. Primary succession refers to changes which occur on an environment that has never been colonized before, for instance, quarrying on land that has never been quarried before. Secondary succession on the other hand involves environmental disturbance ...

Introduction

Teratogen is broadly defined as an environmental agent capable of causing abnormal prenatal variation in form or function. In other words, it can be any environmental factor that can produce a permanent abnormality in structure or function of an embryo or fetus or restriction of growth of an infant (Gilbert-Barness, 2010). In prenatal life, exposure to teratogens may even lead to death of the embryo or fetus. It is estimated that approximately 15% of all congenital structural abnormalities observed in a child are due to exposure to some kind of teratogens during the prenatal life (Brent, 2001). A larger number of ...

Psychology

Prenatal Development and Teratogens Introduction Several factors may negatively affect the development of the fetus such as maternal diseases and harmful environmental elements. These factors are referred to as teratogens that are believed to cause defects on the fetus and other complications after birth. There are cases when a female of very young age got pregnant because of radical lifestyle. For example, a 15-year old girl who is sexually active for two years and exposed to teratogen elements is likely to have an abnormal fetus development when impregnated. In order to avoid such it is important for young girls ...

Teratogens are non-genetic factor present in the body of a human being that disrupt the normal fetal and embryonic differentiation and also the morphogenesis.Their effect are usually seen during birth and this children who are exposed to them in the utter will not be able to pass on the defect to their children. The most common teratogens include the age of the mother.If the person giving birth is of old age, then the number of complications increases. Old mothers are prone to hypertension unlike the younger ones. The effects of the old age would lead low birth weights thus ...

Abstract

The intent of this paper is to canvass some of the various teratogens that often affect the fetus. The paper also seeks to describe some of the common effects of teratogens. It is noteworthy that an appreciable amount of effort has been put in place to unravel the variant types of teratogens. Until present a superfluity of teratogens have been discovered with more being discovered every passing day. Teratogens affect an unborn child in the prenatal development stage in a varied number of ways. Though some of the effects are illustrious at birth, most of the teratogenic complications only become eminent ...