The nurture principle explains that while people are born with genetic predispositions for certain personality and physical traits, the actual outcome depends upon the environmental inputs they receive. In no place is this more critical, than during the prenatal stage (Belsky & Pluess, 2009)
A simple example is the case of the Agouti Mice. Here, the scientists demonstrated that by supplementing the pregnant mother with metafolin and other vitamins, that they could manipulate the coat color of the offspring (DC, D, & RL
The Role of the Mother's Behavior During the 1950's in the United States, it was not uncommon for a pregnant woman to have an alcoholic beverage, or smoke a cigarette, without censure. The womb was viewed as the closed-off, protected haven in which the baby was developing, secure from the insults of the outside world (Harley & Eskenazi, 2006)
A glycoprotein shell forms, which enables the blastocyst to adhere to the uterine wall. The significance of the glycoprotein shell is that the cells which develop into the placenta thus need to be able to come into contact with the uterine wall in order to develop; hence, the shell enables those precursor placental cells to contact the wall of the uterus (Ohlsson, Larsson, Nilsson, Wahlstrom, & Sundstrom, 1989)
A lack of oxygen in her bloodstream (in addition to the poisonous effects of alcohol) impacts the baby, sometimes quite severely. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one leading malady arising from substance abuse of alcohol by the mother during pregnancy (Pietrantoni & Knuppel, 1991)
This is called the process of differentiation, as the embryonic process produces different cell types. This process leads to different growth variables where cells develop into various body phenomena, such as organs, nerve cells, and blood cells (Red Horse & al
genetics) are more important than the outside, external factors that frame the setting in which life occurs (i.e. anything external to the fetus) (Ridley, 2003)
At this time this ball of cells is known as the morula, and a small cleft forms between the cells. At this stage, the conceptus is officially known as a blastocyst (Schultz, 2005)
The second stage is the second trimester, lasting from the weeks thirteen through twenty-seven. The third trimester (stage) last from week twenty-eight to week forty-two (Shibley Hyde & DeLamater, 2007)
Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, remains the realm of scientific study. It does seem, prima facie, a dangerous game to play to take a substance without fully knowing the effects (Szyf, 2009)
The rationale is that since this policy was adopted by doctors, the rates of spina bifida have decreased. Indeed, since the Agouti mice and human mothers alike are taking folic acid (metafolin), one wonders at the effects the substance is having on the rest of the human genome (Y, L, G, L, & MJ
Children with FAS have small eye of openings, making their eyes appear small in proportion to the rest of their head, they have a thin upper lip that makes them look as if they are perching their lips all the time. They have a smooth area between their nose and upper lip, rather than the normal groove (Clarren, 2002)
A child with FAS often has psychological and behavioral issues as to grow up as well. The most damaging effects from FAS are those affecting the central nervous system and brain (Perlstein, 2012)
"The adverse effects on babies during pregnancy are deemed to be high for cannabis, very high for nicotine, weak for caffeine and very high for alcohol, cocaine and heroin." (Amar, 2001, p
In fact the statistical difficulty that teenagers experience with fetal development has largely been blamed upon the immoderate use of alcohol and other drugs during gestational development, though it is clear that an underdeveloped body does play a large part in the problems. (Craig & Baucum 2002, pg
Thus, at 6 months, the drug rehab group was doing significantly better than the drug control group and was approximating the nondrug group on several measures. (Field et al
Offspring of women who drink during pregnancy appear to have a continuum of neurobehavioral, morphological and developmental effects. (Hill, Lowers, Locke-Wellman & Shen, 2000, p
Cocaine use during pregnancy may result in premature labor, abruptio placentae, and decreased placental blood flow (Behnke & Eyler, 1993; Fox, 1994). (Sherman, Sanders & Trinh, 1998, p