teratology

teratology
—teratological /ter'euh tl oj"i keuhl/, adj. —teratologist, n.
/ter'euh tol"euh jee/, n. Biol.
the science or study of monstrosities or abnormal formations in organisms.
[1670-80; TERATO- + -LOGY]

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      branch of the biological sciences dealing with the causes, development, description, and classification of congenital malformations in plants and animals and with the experimental production, in some instances, of these malformations. Congenital malformations arise from interruption in the early development of the organism. Malformations in human infants, for example, may occur because the infant's genotype contains mutant genes or includes an abnormal number of chromosomes; they also may occur if early in pregnancy the mother has had German measles (rubella), has taken some injurious drug, or has been exposed to an injurious dosage of radiation. Experimental studies suggest similar types of factors can cause malformations in animals and plants.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Teratology — Ter a*tol o*gy, n. [Gr. ?, ?, a wonder, monster + logy: cf. Gr. ? a telling of wonders, and F. t[ e]ratologie.] 1. That branch of biological science which treats of monstrosities, malformations, or deviations from the normal type of structure,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • teratology — (n.) study of marvels and monsters, 1670s, from comb. form of Gk. teras (gen. teratos) marvel, monster + LOGY (Cf. logy) …   Etymology dictionary

  • teratology — [ter΄ə täl′ə jē] n. [ TERATO + LOGY] the scientific study of biological monstrosities and malformations teratological [ter΄ətə läj′i kəl] adj …   English World dictionary

  • Teratology — A two headed calf Teratology is the study of abnormalities of physiological development. It is often thought of as the study of human birth defects, but it is much broader than that, taking in other non birth developmental stages, including… …   Wikipedia

  • teratology — noun Date: circa 1842 the study of malformations or serious deviations from the normal type in developing organisms • teratologist noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • teratology — the study of malformations …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • teratology — n. [Gr. teras, monster; logos, discourse] The biological study of structural malformations and monstrosities …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • teratology — noun a) The study of teratogenesis, congenital malformations or grossly deformed individuals. b) The study of the mechanisms, teratogenic agents, or teratogens, in bringing about malformations. See Also: teratogen, teratogenesis, ter …   Wiktionary

  • teratology — The branch of science concerned with the production, development, anatomy, and classification of malformed conceptuses. SEE ALSO: dysmorphology. [terato + G. logos, study] * * * ter·a·tol·o·gy .ter ə täl ə jē n …   Medical dictionary

  • teratology — Synonyms and related words: bowlegs, camelback, cleft palate, clubfoot, crookback, defacement, deformation, deformity, disfigurement, flatfoot, freakishness, harelip, humpback, hunchback, knock knee, kyphosis, lordosis, malconformation,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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