Teratogens

To put a definition plainly, teratogens are agents responsible for many known birth defects. Research found suggests over eight hundred known teratogens. In this paper, you will find interesting facts based on research, the relationship between teratogens and developmental psychology and some personal views based on the information and research found for this piece.

Teratogens are easily classified in three different groups, these being drugs, disease and environmental. These three classifications are very broad. To be slightly more specific some commonly heard of agents classified as teratogens are given as examples. Agents classified as drugs, include prescription, non-prescription and illegal. Some frequently heard of conditions requiring prescription drugs that are known teratogens are diabetes, hypertension, and Anxiety. Other commonly heard of non-prescription and illegal teratogens are cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, and marijuana. Environmental teratogens are agents that are man made or a product of industry. Some well-known teratogens are Lead, mercury, PCB’s, radiation and arsenic. Lastly, we have teratogens due to disease. Some diseases known to cause prenatal complications are HIV, herpes, Rubella, and

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I find the that false information on the internet cause a great deal of misconception in individuals; therefore I chose to critique some random studies found on the internet in comparison to those conducted by academic institutes. Research provided from the University of Iowa on teratogens explains some of the possible outcome to exposure to certain teratogens. The information I found on teratogens was located through their Developmental Psychology website. This information is very common and is all provided within the college text book and from research found by the University Hospital School of Iowa. Only some defects resulting from diseases are listed, these are CNS disease, neonatal death, failure to thrive, infection, miscarriage, abnormal teeth, limb reduction, hearing impairment and mental deficiency.

In order to critique some of the research, I compared various research sites I had found. Page 62 of our class textbook, Human Development has a heading called Influences on Prenatal development, that is where teratogens are listed; therefore, supporting the fact that teratogens are an important aspect of prenatal development in psychology. I have to place a great deal of caution about relaying on information provided from unaccredited sources.

Information provided from the University of Michigan reinforces how teratogens directly relate to Developmental psychology. Understanding why people are born with these conditions involves understanding aspects of biology, genetics and prenatal development; therefore understanding teratogens plays a key role in developmental psychology. Research provided from the University of Dakota support these results to teratogens. The relationship of teratogens to developmental psychology is undisputable. Most of the information I

gained that supports a relationship between developmental psychology and teratogens is similar to what I’ve found in our class textbook.

Approximate Word count = 959
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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