Genetic factors affecting human growth and development

Question 1

What are biological factors?

Answer 1

• Environment in womb can have a dramatic influence on child’s development.
• Decisions mother makes during pregnancy, e.g. drinking will have an effect on the baby.

Question 2

What are the effect of smoking on a foetus?

Answer 2

• Development affected.
• Child weighs less at birth.
• More prone to infections.
• Twice as likely to die of cot death.
• Long term- affect attention span, constantly ill, struggle with social interaction and may have learning disabilities.

Question 3

What are the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 3

• Baby develops smaller head due to poor brain development.
• Heart defects.
• Learning difficulties.
• Neurological problems like seizures.
• Difficulty with complex language.
• Facial abnormalities-short eyelid opening, flat mid face etc.

Question 4

What are some maternal infections during pregnancy?

Answer 4

• Rubella-impaired hearing or eyesight, damaged heart.

- Cytomegalovirus-deafness, learning difficulties, and delayed development.

Question 5

What kind of lifestyle should a pregnant woman follow?

Answer 5

• Folic acid tablets for first few months.
• Low fat and sugar diet to lower risk of high cholesterol.
• Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Starchy foods and proteins.

Question 6

What are genetic predispositions?

Answer 6

• Inherited genes that determine physical growth, development, appearance etc.
• Possibility of developing certain conditions.