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Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Nondisjunction01:21

Nondisjunction

Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate correctly and move to the opposite poles of the cells. This produces daughter cells with abnormal chromosome numbers.  Nondisjunction is common during anaphase I or anaphase II of meiosis.  Mutations in synaptonemal complex proteins that attach homologous chromosomes increase the chances of nondisjunction in anaphase I of meiosis I. In contrast, mutations in topoisomerases and condensins that hold sister...
Nondisjunction01:29

Nondisjunction

During meiosis, chromosomes occasionally separate improperly. This occurs due to failure of homologous chromosome separation during meiosis I or failed sister chromatid separation during meiosis II. In some species, notably plants, nondisjunction can result in an organism with an entire additional set of chromosomes, which is called polyploidy. In humans, nondisjunction can occur during male or female gametogenesis and the resulting gametes possess one too many or one too few chromosomes.
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance02:30

Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance

Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Ex Utero Culture of Mouse Embryos from Pregastrulation to Advanced Organogenesis
07:14

Ex Utero Culture of Mouse Embryos from Pregastrulation to Advanced Organogenesis

Published on: October 19, 2021

Birth defects before epigenesis.

H A Tucker1

  • 1Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. holly.tucker@vanderbilt.edu

Clinical Genetics
|June 17, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ancient physicians explained birth defects through humoralism and maternal imagination. Early theories focused on the quality and quantity of reproductive "seed" and environmental influences on fetal development.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical History
  • Embryology
  • Teratology

Background:

  • Physicians have historically sought to understand the causes of birth defects.
  • Ancient medical theories provided early explanations for fetal anomalies.

Observation:

  • Early humoralist models attributed birth defects to the quantity and quality of male and female reproductive material.
  • Maternal imagination was recognized as a significant environmental factor influencing fetal development.

Findings:

  • Historical medical texts reveal a long-standing inquiry into the origins of congenital anomalies.
  • Theories evolved from humoralism to include the impact of maternal perception on fetal development.

Implications:

  • Understanding historical perspectives on birth defects informs contemporary research.
  • These early concepts highlight the enduring interest in environmental influences on prenatal development.