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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
10:07
Assessing Teratogenic Changes in a Zebrafish Model of Fetal Alcohol Exposure
Published on: March 20, 2012
[Chief teratogenic factors in facial abnormalities]
M D Scutariu1, Corina Ciupilan
1Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr. T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Farmacie, Disciplina de Anatomic şi Fiziologie.
Summary
Facial clefts, like cleft lip and palate, stem from genetic and environmental factors. This review focuses on teratogenic influences impacting newborn facial development.
Area of Science:
- Medical Genetics
- Developmental Biology
- Teratology
Context:
- Congenital facial anomalies, including cleft lip and cleft palate, are significant birth defects.
- These conditions arise from complex interactions between genetic predispositions and environmental exposures.
- Cleft lip occurs in approximately 1 in 1000 births, while cleft palate affects about 1 in 2500 births.
Purpose:
- To review and synthesize current knowledge on teratogenic factors contributing to congenital facial anomalies.
- To understand the specific environmental agents that can disrupt normal facial development in newborns.
- To highlight the role of teratogens in the etiology of conditions like cleft lip and palate.
Summary:
- Facial anomalies often result from multifactorial inheritance, involving both genetic and non-genetic (teratogenic) influences.
- Teratogenic factors are external agents, such as chemicals or infections, that can cause developmental abnormalities.
- This study reviews how these teratogenic factors specifically impact the development of the newborn face.
Impact:
- Informing clinical understanding of the causes of cleft lip and palate.
- Guiding future research into preventative strategies and targeted interventions for facial birth defects.
- Enhancing awareness among healthcare professionals and the public regarding environmental risks during pregnancy.
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