Prenatal Development: Embryology and Teratology

Course Description

Human embryological development with emphasis on normal and abnormal development. Issues in teratology and birth defects, clinical problems associated with birth defects and their means of prevention. Prerequisite: Enrollment in M.S. in Genetic Counseling program or permission of instructor.

Syllabus

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

  • Describe the processes of fertilization, cleavage, and gastrulation of the human embryo.

  • Understand how regulation of gene expression is fundamental in cell differentiation.

  • Delineate mechanisms by which embryonic cells communicate and their role in regulating embryonic development.

  • Describe the process of early germ cell development and sex determination, and their vulnerability to environmental stressors.

  • Describe the effects of teratogens on human development.

  • Develop a differential diagnosis for various structural fetal anomalies.

  • Appreciate the prenatal diagnosis using ultrasound of various structural fetal anomalies.

  • Appreciate the postnatal prognosis of various structural fetal anomalies.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure

Percentage/Points

Anomaly condition presentations (1)

20%

Weekly quizzes (10)

20%

Exam 1

20%

Exam 2

20%

Attendance & Participation

20%

Grading Scale

Percentage

Letter Grade

93–100%

A

90–92%

A–

87–89%

B+

83–86%

B

80–82%

B–

Below 80%

F

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Students are not required to purchase any materials to complete the course

Scholarly Perspectives

This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.