teratology
Birth defect research
Teratology is the study of abnormalities in physiological development—birth defects, malformations, and monstrosities.
The field examines how genetic factors, environmental exposures, and developmental disruptions produce congenital anomalies: Thalidomide's effects sparked major advances in teratology.
In older usage, teratology referred more broadly to tales of monsters and marvels.
Existing from birth
- malformationAbnormally developed structure
- spina bifidaVertebral column fails to close
- cleft palateCongenital oral roof opening
- heart defectAbnormality in blood-pumping organ
neural tube defect · hydrocephalus · anencephaly · clubfoot · Down syndrome · polydactyly · microcephaly · tetralogy of Fallot
Sedative causing fetal deformities
- mutagenAgent causing genetic change
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
- valproateAnticonvulsant mood-stabilizing compound
- warfarinClot-preventing medication
radiation · rubella · cytomegalovirus · toxoplasmosis · mercury · lead · lithium · phenytoin
Unrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
- gorgonSnake-haired petrifying she-beast
- minotaurBull-headed humanoid creature
- centaurHalf-human, half-equine being
sphinx · cyclops · medusa · cerberus · griffin · manticore · basilisk · harpy
Permanent DNA alteration
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- karyotypeOrganized chromosome display
- allelesVariant forms of genes
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
phenotype · genotype · recessive · dominant · heredity · deletion · translocation · mosaicism
Study of prenatal development
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
- pathogenesisHow disease develops
- etiologyScience of disease origins
- prenatalBefore birth
diagnosis · developmental · anatomy · histology · organogenesis · fetology · neonatology · ultrasonography
congenital
Existing from birth
- malformationAbnormally developed structure
- spina bifidaVertebral column fails to close
- cleft palateCongenital oral roof opening
heart defect · neural tube defect · hydrocephalus · anencephaly · clubfoot · Down syndrome · polydactyly · microcephaly · tetralogy of Fallot · trisomy
thalidomide
Sedative causing fetal deformities
- mutagenAgent causing genetic change
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
- valproateAnticonvulsant mood-stabilizing compound
warfarin · radiation · rubella · cytomegalovirus · toxoplasmosis · mercury · lead · lithium · phenytoin · methotrexate
chimera
Unrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
- gorgonSnake-haired petrifying she-beast
- minotaurBull-headed humanoid creature
centaur · sphinx · cyclops · medusa · cerberus · griffin · manticore · basilisk · harpy · phoenix
mutation
Permanent DNA alteration
- chromosomesGene-bearing nuclear structures
- karyotypeOrganized chromosome display
- allelesVariant forms of genes
inheritance · phenotype · genotype · recessive · dominant · heredity · deletion · translocation · mosaicism · genomic
embryology
Study of prenatal development
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
- pathogenesisHow disease develops
- etiologyScience of disease origins
prenatal · diagnosis · developmental · anatomy · histology · organogenesis · fetology · neonatology · ultrasonography · amniocentesis
monster, monstrous, teratogen, teratogenic, teratoma, teratogens, monsterlike