Human Growth and Development / Unit 2 HGD 0194 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Drugs and Medications
Captions available
The idea
Drugs that act as teratogens include some prescribed medications and psychoactive substances such as cocaine, opioids, nicotine, cannabis and alcohol.
In practice
Thalidomide, once prescribed in pregnancy, leaving children with very short or missing limbs.
Where people slip
Thalidomide's harm came when it was taken early, during limb formation, a vivid case of the timing principle.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Human Growth and Development