Beginnings
The start of human development is in the pre-natal, birth, and newborn stages of life. It is important to understand our beginnings and the factors that play major roles in our development. This page will go on to explain the biology behind our beginnings, our development, expected milestones, things that are harmful during development, and lastly parenthood.
In the study of human development, there is controversy as to whether our behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are a direct result of nature(our genes) or nurture (our environment). As the study of human development has advanced we've left the idea of "nature vs. nurture" behind and entered an era of "nature through nurture." In nature through nurture genes related to traits and behaviors are expressed through constant interaction with our environment.
In the study of children and adolescents we are interested in how genes are related to behavior and its development. Genetic affects on behavior has been investigated in three ways molecular genetics, behavioral genetics, behavioral genomics.
Molecular genetics focuses on the identification of particular genes to understand how these genes work within the cell. Behavioral genetics begins with behavior and attempts to define the role genes play in producing that behavior in comparison to environmental effects. Lastly, behavioral genomics bridges molecular genetics and behavioral genetics.
The three stages of prenatal development
The start of human development is in the pre-natal, birth, and newborn stages of life. It is important to understand our beginnings and the factors that play major roles in our development. This page will go on to explain the biology behind our beginnings, our development, expected milestones, things that are harmful during development, and lastly parenthood.
In the study of human development, there is controversy as to whether our behaviors, thoughts, and feelings are a direct result of nature(our genes) or nurture (our environment). As the study of human development has advanced we've left the idea of "nature vs. nurture" behind and entered an era of "nature through nurture." In nature through nurture genes related to traits and behaviors are expressed through constant interaction with our environment.
In the study of children and adolescents we are interested in how genes are related to behavior and its development. Genetic affects on behavior has been investigated in three ways molecular genetics, behavioral genetics, behavioral genomics.
Molecular genetics focuses on the identification of particular genes to understand how these genes work within the cell. Behavioral genetics begins with behavior and attempts to define the role genes play in producing that behavior in comparison to environmental effects. Lastly, behavioral genomics bridges molecular genetics and behavioral genetics.
The three stages of prenatal development
Below is a video demonstrating the milestones of development from newborn to toddler.
Teratogens
A teratogen is an agent that causes disruptions in prenatal development and can lead to malformations and in some cases termination of pregnancy. Common teratogens include smoking and alcohol consumption by the mother, use of prescription and illegal drugs, diseases, and maternal stress on the mother.The presence of any of these can lead to problems with the birth and development of the child.
The effects of smoking during pregnancy are permanent and include the following symptoms: growth retardation, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth rate, sudden infant death. The effects of alcohol as a teratogen are referred to as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The effects are permanent and include the following: abnormal facial features, small structure/head, and cognitive deficits. Improper use of prescription and over the counter drugs can lead to the following: malformed appendages, birth defects, and miscarriages. This is the most harmful during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
A teratogen is an agent that causes disruptions in prenatal development and can lead to malformations and in some cases termination of pregnancy. Common teratogens include smoking and alcohol consumption by the mother, use of prescription and illegal drugs, diseases, and maternal stress on the mother.The presence of any of these can lead to problems with the birth and development of the child.
The effects of smoking during pregnancy are permanent and include the following symptoms: growth retardation, premature birth, miscarriage, low birth rate, sudden infant death. The effects of alcohol as a teratogen are referred to as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The effects are permanent and include the following: abnormal facial features, small structure/head, and cognitive deficits. Improper use of prescription and over the counter drugs can lead to the following: malformed appendages, birth defects, and miscarriages. This is the most harmful during the first few weeks of pregnancy.
Parenthood
Becoming a parent is one of life’s most important and difficult transitions. It affects all aspects of one's life, sense of identity, relationships with your partner and others, your career, and it involves a good amount of stress.
Parents are becoming parents at the same time, but not in the same way. Both experience: fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, and self-doubt. Both parents also feel an increase in household responsibilities. Both parents experience feelings of gratification, they find baby irresistible, and are preoccupied with thoughts of the baby throughout the day. Mothers tend to worry about things such as their appearance. They are more vulnerable to experiencing depression. They also experience a twenty percent increase in household chores. Fathers, on the other hand, worry about providing for their families. They are able to contribute only about thirty percent of their time to the household. Fathers tend to compare their work and abilities to their own father. Overall, the effect of a baby has a lot to do with the parents’ relationship prior to the birth. Everything good in the marriage gets better, everything bad gets worse.
Becoming a parent is one of life’s most important and difficult transitions. It affects all aspects of one's life, sense of identity, relationships with your partner and others, your career, and it involves a good amount of stress.
Parents are becoming parents at the same time, but not in the same way. Both experience: fatigue, exhaustion, anxiety, and self-doubt. Both parents also feel an increase in household responsibilities. Both parents experience feelings of gratification, they find baby irresistible, and are preoccupied with thoughts of the baby throughout the day. Mothers tend to worry about things such as their appearance. They are more vulnerable to experiencing depression. They also experience a twenty percent increase in household chores. Fathers, on the other hand, worry about providing for their families. They are able to contribute only about thirty percent of their time to the household. Fathers tend to compare their work and abilities to their own father. Overall, the effect of a baby has a lot to do with the parents’ relationship prior to the birth. Everything good in the marriage gets better, everything bad gets worse.