Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
Types of Toxins01:36

Types of Toxins

Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions01:24

Drug Toxicity: Dose-Dependent Reactions

Drug toxicities can be stratified into pharmacological, pathological, or genotoxic based on their mechanisms. The incidence and severity of these toxicities generally increase with the drug's concentration in the body and exposure time.Pharmacological toxicity is evident when the therapeutic effects of drugs overshoot into adverse reactions in a predictable, dose-dependent manner. Central nervous system (CNS) depression from barbiturates is a classic example, with effects escalating from...
Toxic Reactions: Overview01:26

Toxic Reactions: Overview

When toxic substances penetrate the human body, they disseminate to various tissues, undergoing metabolic changes. This process yields reactive metabolites that may covalently bind with specific target molecules, resulting in toxicity.
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Comparative Analysis of Morphological and Acoustic Correlates of Bush-Cricket Tympanic Membranes.

Computational and structural biotechnology journal·2026
Same author

Convergent evolution of harmonic hopping: multiple origins of high-frequency calls in crickets.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Prevalence of major structural congenital abnormalities detected on infant surface examination in Botswana, 2014-2022: a birth outcomes surveillance study.

BMJ paediatrics open·2026
Same author

The Effects of Diet on the Expression of Male Dimorphic Colouration and Weaponry in a Species of Neotropical Katydid.

Ecology and evolution·2025
Same author

Elective Terminations Because of Fetal Abnormalities: Findings in A Tertiary Maternity Center Over 41 Years (1972-2012).

American journal of medical genetics. Part A·2025
Same author

Changes in wing resonance in dried preserved crickets.

Royal Society open science·2024
Same journal

Corrigendum for: Levels of folate receptor autoantibodies in maternal and cord blood and risk of neural tube defects in a Chinese population, 106:685-695 (10.1002/bdra.23517).

Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology·2016
Same journal

Response to Dr. Kirby.

Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology·2016
Same journal

Response to letter to the editor by Wise.

Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology·2016
Same journal

Letter to the editor: Comments on venlafaxine paper by Laurent et al.

Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology·2016
Same journal

Association between antibiotic use among pregnant women with urinary tract infections in the first trimester and birth defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study 1997 to 2011.

Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology·2016
Same journal

Evaluation of the Western Australian Register of Developmental Anomalies: Thirty-five years of surveillance.

Birth defects research. Part A, Clinical and molecular teratology·2016
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Developmental Toxicity Assays for Chemical Safety Screening and Systems Biology Data Generation
17:28

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Developmental Toxicity Assays for Chemical Safety Screening and Systems Biology Data Generation

Published on: June 17, 2015

Human teratogens: update 2010.

Lewis B Holmes1

  • 1Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. holmes.lewis@mgh.harvard.edu.

Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology
|January 22, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Identifying human teratogens aids in assessing new risks. However, knowledge gaps and limited clinician training hinder effective counseling on pregnancy exposures, necessitating improved resources.

More Related Videos

Transgenic Rodent Assay for Quantifying Male Germ Cell Mutant Frequency
14:45

Transgenic Rodent Assay for Quantifying Male Germ Cell Mutant Frequency

Published on: August 6, 2014

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Developmental Toxicity Assays for Chemical Safety Screening and Systems Biology Data Generation
17:28

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Developmental Toxicity Assays for Chemical Safety Screening and Systems Biology Data Generation

Published on: June 17, 2015

Transgenic Rodent Assay for Quantifying Male Germ Cell Mutant Frequency
14:45

Transgenic Rodent Assay for Quantifying Male Germ Cell Mutant Frequency

Published on: August 6, 2014

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
07:08

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants

Published on: March 6, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Teratology
  • Developmental Toxicology
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Numerous human teratogens are identified, with characteristics useful for evaluating potential new agents.
  • Information on teratogens is accessible via databases (TERIS, Reprotox), counseling services (OTIS, ENTIS), literature, and professional meetings.
  • Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding molecular mechanisms, genetic susceptibility, exposure routes (dermal, airborne), and clinical training in teratology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the current deficiencies in teratogen information and clinical expertise.
  • To identify key dilemmas in counseling pregnant individuals regarding various exposures.
  • To underscore the need for enhanced resources and guidance for pregnancy registries.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing teratogen information resources and identification of knowledge gaps.
  • Analysis of current challenges in clinical counseling for pregnancy exposures.
  • Discussion of the limitations in current drug classification systems for teratogenicity.

Main Results:

  • Lack of understanding of molecular/cellular basis for teratogenicity.
  • Inability to identify genetically susceptible individuals pre-conception.
  • Limited data on dermal/airborne exposures and inadequate clinician training.
  • Uncertainty regarding teratogenicity of specific drugs (SSRIs, TNF-alpha inhibitors), assisted reproductive technology (epigenetics), and phthalates.
  • Outdated drug classification systems (A-X) impede accurate counseling.

Conclusions:

  • There is a critical need for improved knowledge on teratogenic mechanisms and susceptible populations.
  • Enhanced clinical training and updated counseling practices are essential.
  • Development of a national advisory center for pregnancy registries is recommended to guide new registry development and improve data quality.