Essay Birth Defects - 857 Words

Birth defects, or congenital malformations, are the faulty formation of structures or body parts present at birth. Sporadic, hereditary, or acquired defects may be immediately observed or may become manifest later in life; they may be visible on the body surface or present internally. Birth defects may be life threatening and require surgical correction, or they may interfere with function or appearance. It is estimated that about 3% of all children are born with major defects; minor defects or variations are estimated to occur in 10% to 15% of births. Malformations may be single or multiple. Multiple malformations that occur in a regular recognizable pattern are referred to as syndromes--for example, the FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME sometimes†¦show more content†¦In cases of autosomal recessive inheritance, both parents are normal but each carries a silent, or recessive, gene that, if matched in an offspring, causes the birth defect. Because both parents are so-called carriers (heterozygotes) of the same abnormal gene, they run a 25% risk (1 in 4) of having a child with the birth defect caused by that particular gene. Examples of birth defects inherited in this autosomal recessive manner are TAY-SACHS DISEASE and SICKLE-CELL ANEMIA. In cases of X-linked recessive inheritance the abnormal gene is located on the X chromosome. The normal mother has two X chromosomes, one of which carries the gene for the abnormal condition; but if her son inherits her X chromosome with the abnormal gene, he will be affected with the condition. HEMOPHILIA is inherited in this matter. Multifactorial Defects Many common birth defects do not occur in a pattern that indicates simple Mendelian inheritance. They seem to result from an interaction of genes and the environment, including the intrauterine environment, and each factor includes a number of different hereditary and environmental influences; hence, these defects are called multifactorial. Among them are congenital heart disease; neural tube defects, including SPINA BIFIDA, myelomeningocele, and anencephaly; and CLUBFOOT, CLEFT LIP AND PALATE, and dislocated hips. Chromosome Number An increase or decrease in the total chromosome material can cause birth defects. ForShow MoreRelatedA Birth Defect1860 Words   |  8 Pagesdifferent recourses show that about 1 in 33 babies that are born in the U.S have a birth defect. I decided to use this known fact from the Human Biology thirteenth edition textbook by Sylvia S. Mader and Michael Windelpecht due to the fact that not many people know or even care to think about it— that is— unless it happened to them or someone in their own circle. In order to understand how to prevent and test for a birth defect you need to understand some common definitions and words that can be used whileRead MoreBirth Defects2486 Words   |  10 PagesBirth Defetc s No one is immune to birth defetc s, yet not everyone is equally susceptible. Birth defetc s are not merely a medical problem. They have profound effetc s on the social and psychological well being of their family and friends. In the normal course of fetal development, cells migrate to their appropriate destination so that organs and limbs form where they should. Usually, the genes perform flawlessly, but mistakes can and do occur. Some of the most common birth defetc sRead More Birth Defects Essays2443 Words   |  10 Pages Birth Defects No one is immune to birth defects, yet not everyone is equally susceptible. Birth defects are not merely a medical problem. They have profound effects on the social and psychological well being of their family and friends. In the normal course of fetal development, cells migrate to their appropriate destination so that organs and limbs form where they should. Usually, the genes perform flawlessly, but mistakes can and do occur. Some of the most common birth defects results from theRead MoreBirth Defects And Its Effects On Society1441 Words   |  6 Pages Sean Moren Mrs. Bumgarner English I Honors 5 May 2017 Studies have been completed, showing that 10% of birth defects are caused by chemicals in industrial products.(Birth Defects and Environmental Causes. ) The chemicals in industrial products come from many things, however, food is one of the largest contributors to birth defects. Therefore, it is important that consumers understand how the industry s use of chemicals can affect one’s, health through their use of packing, synthetic chemicalsRead MoreBirth Defects in differenct Cultures1229 Words   |  5 PagesIn many cultures, birth defects are considered a curse and are sought to be removed by some method: spiritually or by simply ignoring them. However, as science is improving and eyes are opening towards the topic of birth defects, more research has been conducted to understand and accept them. Since the 1960s, the federal government introduced ways that mentally ill patients could live outside a mental hospital, where they were confined from the general public, and live a normal life. Many communitiesRead More Congenital Birth Defects Essay2343 Words   |  10 PagesCongenital Birth Defects Birth defects, congenital abnormalities are terms used to describe developmental defects that are present at birth. There are a lot of genetic and environmental interactions in the complex transition from a fertilised ovum to a fully formed human being. The stage of development that the interactions are affected influences the type of birth defects. Birth defect causes can be divided into two types, genetic and environmental causes. There are also birth defects which areRead MoreCase Study on Birth Defects1284 Words   |  5 Pages1. How does the class-presented case study of birth defects draw together and demonstrate each of the goals of epidemiologists (15 points)? During class lecture on 4/4/2014, I learned about a case study regarding neural tube defects (NTD). The instructor, Amy Ham, discussed this study as well as various ways professionals apply the goals of epidemiology: â€Å" -To determine the extent of disease found in the community -To trace the etiology of disease -To study the natural history of disease inRead MoreThe Common Genetic Birth Defects1170 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most common genetic birth defects is Down syndrome which is a congenital disorder caused from a chromosome defect. It causes impairments and physical abnormalities. This is a condition where a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome. According to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), 1 in 700 babies are born with DS. There is not an exact cause of how DS happens but there is an explanation as to what happens. When there is any case of reproduction, genes from bothRead MoreThe Birth Of A Baby With Genetic Defects1744 Words   |  7 PagesScience has evolved rapidly, from paternal test, to vitro fertilization (IVF) and testing embryos for genetic defects; and recently talks of designer babies. The first genetically tested embryo was in the US in 2000 . With his birth, came a law in the UK, (which was where this baby was born) prohibiting th e creation of more of these babies. This law was created since the British Medical Association, Dr Vivienne Nathanson, said that these babies would feel as â€Å"medical products†. This law still remainsRead MoreThe Effects Of Birth Defects On The Development Of The Fetus899 Words   |  4 PagesPrenatal development is the process in which a human embryo or fetus gestates during pregnancy, from fertilization until birth (Prenatal Development). Most cases of unhealthy development can be avoided, however there are some genetic and environmental factors that cannot. Some genetic factors that affect the development of the fetus are Phenylketonuria, Sickle-cell Anemia, Tay-Sachs Disease, and Down Syndrome (Feldman 402). Some environmental teratogens that affect the development of the fetus are