Environmental and Genetic Impact on Fetal Development

687 Words2 Pages

There are many factors that affect development. Some of those are factor, which have a direct bearing on prenatal life, later on manifest postnatal. The human body is a highly organized system with trillion of cells communicating with each other to ensure proper functioning. However those functions, can be enhance or impaired by endogenous or exogenous agent, which act in concert to produce effects during prenatal life. These effects might have consequences on emotional and cognitive development of a child postnatal. Deena Palenchar (2005) stated that there are environmental agents, which can adversely affect the prenatal development. These agents are known as teratogen. When exposed to these environmental agents, genetic materials interact with them producing effects that can have direct bearing o the rearing of the child. On the other hand, there is stress. Stress is a normal occurrence in everyone’s life, and it management depends on each individual (Sleigh, 2005). Just like teratogen, stress can affect the fetus development with mild or serious consequences during childhood and adulthood. Both teratogen in this case smoking and stress can adversely affect the fetus by producing Nicotinic Acetylcholine receptors and cortisol respectively, which have a great impact on the prenatal and postnatal development.

Proteins are building the human body. They trigger chemical reactions throughout the body (Berk, 2010). They are produced within the cell, and they carry genetic materials, which are easily modified by environmental factors. With the technological advances in genetic, studies has been conducted to determine the effects of smoking on prenatal life. It was found nicotine exposure acts directly on the developing nervous system through activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and its premature release could affect the replication and differentiation of neurons (Wiebe, Espy, Stopp, Respass, Stewart, Jameson & Huggenvik, 2009). Additionally Nicotine interferes ability to absorb certain nutrients because of constricted blood vessel. This also restricts the amount of oxygen flow to the fetus, and disrupts sleep pattern and REM sleep (Sleigh, 2005). Researchers have found that REM sleep is vital for the growth of central nervous system (Berk, 2010). However in their studies, the authors of Gene-environment interactions across development argued that genetic studies should not just consider prenatal risk factors of smoking, but also postnatal environmental factors including parenting and postnatal tobacco exposure, which can determine the capacity to regulate cognition and emotion (Wiebe, Espy, Stopp, Respass, Stewart, Jameson & Huggenvik, 2009).

Show More
Related

  • Tobacco On Goldfish Metabolism

    706 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tobacco is connected with a number of negative effects in humans and a few other organisms. For example, the long list of negative effects range from birth defects and lessened lung capacity, to sexual impotence. All of the previously mentioned result from extended tobacco exposure in varying mediums and although they are negative effects associated with tobacco, it has also been proven that tobacco to acts as a stimulant to some animals (Nice 135). In studying how tobacco effects the body of any living being and its uses, over time new developments may progress that would allow us to use tobacco only for its positive effects while bypassing its negative ones.

    Read More

  • The Effects of Prenatal Cocaine-Exposure On Cognitive Development

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    There are many factors that are integrated into the successful development of a child from Prenatal growth into toddlerhood. Teratogens (outside factors) have a great impact on the babies’ inutero development. Some outside factors like second-hand smoke, smog, or fumes from cleaning chemicals can cause negative effects on the child inside the womb. A few major affects from teratogens could result in low birth weight, head circumference, slow physical growth as well as an effect on mental, behavioral and motor skills (Berk, 2003). The environment around the mother provides many of these outside factors affecting the baby’s growth. But the main link to teratogens during the gestation period is most likely the mother. Daniel S. Messinger and the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 2.8% of pregnant women admitted to using illicit drugs during their pregnancy (1996). Through illicit drug use, tobacco use and alcohol use, the mother disrupts her baby’s growth with possibly permanent damage.

    Read More

  • Environmental Influences On Prenatal Development

    534 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tobacco use during pregnancy is another environmental influence. The nicotine, carbon monoxide, and many other harmful chemicals mixed together in cigarettes are very harmful to the mother and especially the unborn child. This can cut off the baby’s oxygen supply, increase the risk of

    Read More

  • The Effects of Teratogens on an Unborn Embryo

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    The birth of a healthy child is a blessing. The prenatal period is susceptible in terms of embryonic development, and some exposures to teratogens can have adverse and lifelong affects on a baby. Although physical outcomes resulting from teratogen exposure cannot be reversed, with hope, some of the behavioral effects of Teratogens may have a decreased impact on the life of the child, though all mothers should pay special attention to the health of their child throughout their pregnancy.

    Read More

  • Effects of Prenatal Maternal Stress on Development

    2053 Words  | 5 Pages

    Each second of fetal development during pregnancy is of extreme importance. This period of prenatal development is a time of change and growth with many factors affecting all areas of growth. Different stimuli having long-lasting effects on development is a process known as programming. The goal of this first article, (put the name of the article here) is to look into the idea of programming and how the influence of stress effects prenatal development. It begins with a biological approach. Looking at the role of Glucocorticoids cortisol in fetal development, the article states that they play a critical role in development and are associated with the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, one of the body’s major stress responsive systems.” (Davis & Sandman, 2010) This cortisol increases in mothers over the course of pregnancy and is important in brain development in the fetus. While these Glucocorticoids are important and essential to prenatal development, overexposure can lead to negative effects, including emotional disturbances in early childhood, deregulated stress responses in infa...

    Read More

  • The Importance of Early Brain Development

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    Prenatal brain development is not usually the first topic on a pregnant woman’s mind, if it crosses her mind at all! Many women do not know what adverse effects certain circumstances can have on a child’s development. The most obvious deterrent of brain development would be a physical injury to the child. If any portion of the child’s brain is damaged during pregnancy, the effects will almost certainly be long term. Most pregnant women successfully take the necessary steps to avoid physically damaging the child’s brain. Perhaps even scarier is the thought that continuous exposure to stress can also permanently damage the brain development of a child that has yet to be born. The US National Library of Medicine states that in humans and animals, prolonged exposure to stress that can be controlled by the mother may result in abnormal behavioral, cognitive, and psychosocial outcomes. It is important for mothers to remember that they are no longer taking care of only themselves. Though unborn, there is a lot of damage that can be ...

    Read More

  • Teratogens and Developmental Psychology

    373 Words  | 1 Pages

    To put a definition plainly, teratogens are agents responsible for countless 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.

    Read More

  • Victorian Public Health And Wellbeing Plan Essay

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Aboriginal women who smoke while pregnant can be put in/face multiple situations such as for example, poor socioeconomic circumstances which can lead to psychological distress, which is a major risk factor both for depressive and anxiety disorders, and is associated with risk behaviours such as Tobacco smoking. Subsequently the Physical environment which consists of the physical things that surround us also impacts pregnant aboriginal women as housing (a crowded house) can lead to a higher rate of mental health thus increasing the likelihood of tobacco smoking. Last of all, the biological determinant of health which relates to the structure of the cells, tissues and systems of the body and how adequately they function, can also impact pregnant aboriginal women as heavy smokers tend to have greater body weight as compared to light smokers or non-smokers, which likely reproduces a grouping of risky behaviours for example a low amount of physical activity, poor diet, and higher rates of tobacco smoking can lead to a advantageous to weight

    Read More

  • Prenatal Growth and Development

    1269 Words  | 3 Pages

    Baby’s take an average of 38-40 weeks to fully develop and prepare for birth. This time period of approximately nine months is broken down into 3 periods in which the baby spends growing from a tiny mass of cells into a functional, healthy, bouncing baby. If all goes smoothly the birth of a baby, including labor time could take between 4-8 hours, sometimes more, sometimes less. There are many factors that can affect the baby’s growth and development, called teratogens, but overall baby will slowly grow and develop until he or she is prepared to enter into the world.

    Read More

  • Teratogens and Their Effects on Fetus Development

    1998 Words  | 4 Pages

    Huizink, A. C., Robles de Medina, P. G., Mulder, E. J., Visser, G. H., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2003). Stress during pregnancy is associated with developmental outcome in infancy. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 44(6), 810-818.

    Read More

  • Flame Retardants Essay

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    Another study measured the levels of flame retardants in both mothers’ prenatal and their children’ serums, and found that high concentrations of flame retardants like polybrominated diphenyl ethers were associated with a poorer attention than normal, slower cognitive development, and motor coordination difficulties. (Hamers, 2017)

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Smoking During Pregnancy

    1674 Words  | 4 Pages

    In developing countries, it is estimated that only 8 percent of expectant mothers smoke. These percentages may sound low, but together they equal up to one million babies born worldwide each year to mothers who smoked while pregnant (Smoking during Pregnancy, 2009). One study found that about one in four women who smoked while pregnant deny it. Maternal smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of birth complications and has long-term developmental consequences for child development, including deficits in general intelligence, academic skills, and cognitive functioning. As social inequalities in smoking have increased over time, maternal smoking during pregnancy has become concentrated among women with lower levels of education (e.g., more than 20% among women without a high school degree)

    Read More

  • Genetics, Child Growth and Development

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    Genetics is a scientific discipline that deals with how individuals inherit their physical and behavioral attributes. Generally, genetics is a branch of biology that deals with the science of heredity, genes, and differences in living organisms. It’s the process with which a child inherits traits from his/her parents and the molecular organization and function of genes. The question of what determines the development of a child has been an issue that has attracted considerable concerns and debates across educators, biologists, and psychologists. This issue has attracted huge concerns because it’s impossible to explain each and every factor that eventually determines who a child becomes. Notably, the development of a child involves a mix of various influences such as parenting, genetics, individual experiences, family relationships, friends, and school. One of the most important influences on a child’s development and growth is genetics, which primarily is the process of traits inheritance from parents to offspring.

    Read More

  • Child Development: Heredity and Environment

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    The distinction between nature versus nurture or even environment versus heredity leads to the question of: does the direct environment or the nature surrounding an adolescent directly influence acts of delinquency, later progressing further into more radical crimes such as murder or psychotic manifestation, or is it directly linked to the hereditary traits and genes passed down from that individual adolescent’s biological parents? To answer this question one must first understand the difference between nature, nurture, environment, and heredity. Nurture, broken down further into environment, is defined as various external or environmental factors one is exposed to which can be more specifically broken down into social and physical aspects. Nature, itself broken down into heredity, is defined as the genetics and the individual characteristics in one’s personality or even human nature.

    Read More

  • The Causes and Effects of Smoking

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    Scientists and health officials have been arguing the detrimental effects smoking has on our health for many years. Smoking can lead to serious complications including asthma, pancreas, lung and stomach cancer due to the large number of carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) and other various substances added to it. It is a health hazard for both smokers and non-smokers and it is especially harmful to unborn babies. Although smokers claim that it helps them to relax and release stress, the negative aspects of the habit take over the positive. As it has been stressed by the scientists and experts, there are some very severe reasons of smoking but its crucial consequences should also be taken into consideration.

    Read More

More about Environmental and Genetic Impact on Fetal Development

Open Document