Talk:Teratology

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The discovery of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome"

The detrimental effects of prenatal alcohol exposure have been alluded to for centuries; however, not until the late 20th century was a conclusive causal relationship between alcohol exposure and birth abnormalities established (Jones & Smith, 1973). As early as 1900, Nicloux illustrated (using an animal model) that alcohol passes directly through the placenta, affecting the embryo, yet many physicians during that time continued to believe the placenta was an inclusive barrier against all agents (Nicloux, 1900 as cited in Randall, 2001). It wasn’t until 1968 when Lemoine found a reoccurring pattern of birth defects in children born to alcoholic mothers in France that alcohol began to be considered a teratogen (Lemoine, 1968 as cited in Randall, 2001). Niubrad 20:59, 10 October 2006 (UTC)