This document provides an overview of genetics, prenatal development, and birth. It discusses key concepts such as genes and chromosomes, dominant and recessive genes, the stages of pregnancy (germinal, embryonic, fetal), the stages of labor, and influences on prenatal development like teratogens. It also addresses common complications of birth like preterm birth and low birthweight. The document is intended to educate students taking a human development course on important foundations of genetics and the prenatal period.

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Genetics, Prenatal
Development, and Birth
CHAPTER 2
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2: Genetics, Prenatal Development,
and Birth
Genes and Chromosomes
Blueprints for creating a person are stored
and communicated in our genes, the basic
units of genetic information
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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The Code of Life
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
How Are Genes Expressed?
Genotype = Genetic Code Phenotype = Gene Expression

2. Genetic Code Expression
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Determining Sex
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
When Development Deviates
Inherited and Genetic Disorders
GENETICS
SPONTANEOUS
MUTATION
ENVIRONMENTAL
INSULT
• Down Syndrome
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Sickle-cell anemia
Examples include:
• Tay-Sachs disease
• Klinefelter's Syndrome
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2

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Dominant
Gene Disease
Recessive
Gene Disease
Ex: Cystic Fibrosis Ex: Huntington’s Disease
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Environmental Influence
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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Gene - Environment Interaction (GXE)
Sandra Scarr suggests three ways that a child's genetic
predisposition may influence his or her environment:
PASSIVE EVOCATIVE ACTIVE
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2

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Passive G X E
“Genes by Environment” (i.e., interaction between the two)
Biological parents provide environments
(and genes) to their children
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Evocative G X E
Children bring characteristics to
environments that evoke certain responses
“Genes by Environment”
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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Active G X E
Children seek out certain environments
Ex: “Niche‐Picking”
“Genes by Environment”

5. Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Review and Apply
APPLYAPPLY
• How might an environment different from
the one you have experienced in your
lifetime affect your development? Would
your personality, behavior or
accomplishments look any different?
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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Prenatal Growth
and Birth
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Stages of Prenatal Development
Germinal Stage: Fertilization ‐2 Weeks
Embryonic Stage:
2‐8 Weeks
Fetal Stage:
8 weeks ‐ Birth
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2

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Fertilization
Gametes from male and female join (sperm and ovum)
Zygote created from fused gametes
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
More than one?
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Multiple births have
increased over
the last 25 years.
Why?
• Fertility Drugs
• Mother’s Age
• Diverse Population
SOURCE: National Vital Statistics Reports, “Births: Final data
for 2013”

7. Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Germinal Stage
Shortest stage
Fertilized egg now called blastocyst
Travels to and implants in uterus
Characterized by methodical cell division
◦ Cell specialization
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Embryonic Stage
Organism firmly secures to uterus and called an embryo
Organogenesis
◦Development of major organs and basic anatomy
Three distinct layers that ultimately
form different set of structures:
◦Endoderm

8. ◦Mesoderm
◦Ectoderm
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Fetal Stage
Organism now called fetus
Characterized by rapid development
Formally starts when differentiation of major organs has
occurred
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Body Proportions
At two months,
head represents
about half the
fetus, but by the
time of birth, it is
one‐quarter of
its total size
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2

9. Infertility, Miscarriage and Abortion
Occurrence Prevalence Causes / Outcomes
INFERTILITY
15%
of couples
Maternal: age, hormones, stress, drug use
Paternal: drug use, tobacco, STI (STD)
Outcomes: anxiety / depression, grief
MISCARRIAGE
15 – 20%
of pregnancies
Causes: often genetic abnormality, drug use,
incompatible blood, Rx drugs (historically)
Outcomes: grief, depression, difficulty caring for
future children
ABORTION
Outcomes: Mix of relief / regret, short‐term
mental distress / disorder
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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10. Threats to Development
Teratogen:
Environmental agent
that causes damage
during prenatal
period.
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Teratogens
Prescription &
Non-prescription Drugs
Psychoactive
Drugs
Environmental
Hazards
Infectious
Diseases
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Critical Periods

11. Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Mother's Prenatal Influence
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Father's Prenatal Influence
Relatively little research
Tobacco use
Drug use
Alcohol use
Treatment of mother

12. Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Optimizing the Prenatal Environment
Avoid X‐rays and birth control pills; get rubella
vaccination
Eat well and take prenatal vitamins
Avoid alcohol use and other drugs
Monitor caffeine intake.
Avoid smoking and exposure to secondhand
smoke
Exercise regularly
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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Fetal Development Monitoring Techniques
Technique Description
Amniocentesis • Fifteenth and twentieth week of pregnancy
• A sample of the amniotic fluid
Chorionic villus
sampling (CVS)

13. • Done at 8 to 11 weeks
• either transabdominally or transcervically, depending on
where the placenta is located. Involves inserting a
needle (abdominally) or a catheter (cervically) into the
placenta but staying outside the amniotic sac
• This tissue is manually cleaned of maternal uterine
tissue and cultured
Ultrasound
sonography
• Uses very high frequency sound waves to detect
structural abnormalities or multiple pregnancies,
measure fetal growth, judge gestational age
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Stages of Labor
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
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Birth Complications
Problem Description Outcomes Treatments
Preterm
Prior to 38
weeks

14. Health and developmental
problems, lower academic
achievement, breathing
problems, ADD / ADHD,
newborn death
Massage,
Kangaroo Care
Low
Birth‐weight
Less than 5.5
pounds
7% of all US
births
Small for
Gestational
Age (SGA)
Below 10th
percentile
for that age
Malpresentation
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
Very low birth‐weight infants
Most vulnerable; immaturity of their organ systems

15. Weigh less than 1250 grams (around 2 1/4 pounds)
Normal, 2 day old
baby (8.2 lbs.)
4 weeks old, born at 30
weeks (~2 mos. early)
2 weeks old, full‐term
but 2.6 lbs. at birth Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
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Post-mature Babies: 2 weeks + overdue
leading to the potential of brain damage
birth canal
Module 1 – Week 2– Ch. 2
1
Welcome to HD101
Human Development Across the Life Span

16. H D 1 0 1 / S E C T I O N 1 / FA L L 2 0 1 8
M W F : 9 : 1 0 – 1 0 : 0 0 A M T O D D 1 3 3
I N S T R U C T O R : D R . D E B B I E H A N D Y / TA :
G A N J I N
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1: Orientation to Lifespan
Development
Introductions
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
2
Copyright © 2017, 2014, 2010, Pearson Education Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
References
Feldman, R. S. (2015). Life span development: A topical
approach. 3rd edition.
Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Reminders
General Reminders
◦ Get a copy of the textbook!
◦ Become familiar with Blackboard Learn
Assignments

17. ◦ Study questions for chapters 1 & 2
◦ Syllabus Quiz open Monday. 8/20 (15pts)
◦ DUE Sun., 8/26 11:59 pm
◦ Chapter 1 Quiz open Wed. 8/29 (15 pts)
◦ DUE: Sun., 9/2 at 11:59pm
◦ Plagiarism Quiz open Monday, 8/20 (10 pts)
◦ DUE Sun., 9/9 11:59 pm
Module 1.1 – Lifespan Overview
3
What is Lifespan Development?
Lifespan development examines
patterns of growth, change, and stability
in behavior throughout the lifespan
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
What are the primary
characteristics of development?
Physical
Cognitive
Social & Emotional
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1

18. 4
Experiencing life differently from your peers
Socioeconomic Status
Culture
Age Living Environment
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
Why is development different
across individuals?
Sociocultural-graded
Influences
History-graded Influences Age-graded Influences
Non-normative Life Event
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
5
Key Debates in Lifespan Development
1) Continuous change vs. discontinuous change
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1

19. Key Debates in Lifespan Development
2) Critical periods vs. sensitive periods
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
Critical Period Example:
Imprinting
Sensitive Period Example:
Learning Language
6
Key Debates in Lifespan Development
3) Life span approach vs. particular periods approach
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
Key Debates in Lifespan Development
4) Nature vs. nurture
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
Nature: Genetics Nurture: Environment
Note: Later in Ch. 2 we will discuss gene by environment
interactions (GxE)

20. 7
Activity Time!
This is an individual activity but you are welcome to talk with
your neighbors as you work!
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-
NC
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
Theories are broad, organized
explanations and predictions
concerning phenomena of interest.
8
What theoretical perspectives guide the
study of human development?
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
Psychodynamic Behavioral Cognitive
Humanistic Contextual Evolutionary
Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological
Approach to Development
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1

21. Microsystem: direct
Mesosystem: connections
within the microsystem
Exosystem: indirect
Macrosystem: society
Chronosystem: time
Five levels of the environment
simultaneously influence individuals:
9
Module 1 – Week 1 – Ch. 1
How do we study human development?
HD101 Week 2
Ch. 2 Genetics, Prenatal Development, and Birth
Study Questions: (10 points) – Write responses to each of the
following questions. Write the responses in your own words, do
not copy and paste from your textbook, or another source. Cite a
reference for the information provided for each question.
Include a reference list.
Rubric
· Responses to questions are accurate. – 5 points
· Each question has a reference citation in APA format;
reference list is included/accurate. – 2 points.

22. · Responses are written in student’s voice. – 3 points.
_____________________________________________________
________________________________
1. Please define and give an example of the following
terminology:
Dominant genes
Definition:
Example:
Recessive genes
Definition:
Example:
Genotype
Definition:
Example:
Phenotype
Definition:
Example:
2. What are gene by environment interactions (GxE)?
3. Please provide one example for each of the following types
of gene by environment (GxE) interactions:
a) Passive
b) Active
c) Evocative
4. Name and describe what happens in each of the three stages

23. of pregnancy.
a) Stage 1: ____________________
Description:
b) Stage 2: ____________________
Description:
c) Stage 3: ____________________
Description:
5. Name and describe what happens during the three stages of
labor.
a) Stage 1: ____________________
Description:
b) Stage 2: ____________________
Description:
c) Stage 3: ____________________
Description:
6. What is the age of viability?
7. What advice would you give to someone who is ready for
pregnancy? Be sure to include diet, exercise, drug & alcohol
use, and prenatal care?
8. What is a teratogen. Provide a definition. What are the

24. possible effects of alcohol, smoking, prescription medicine, and
other drugs?
9. What are some benefits for children that come from having
involved dads?
Chapter 1: An Orientation to Lifespan Development
Write responses to each of the following questions. Write the
responses in your own words, do not copy and paste from your
textbook, or another source. Cite a reference for the information
provided for each question. Include a reference list.
Rubric
· Responses to questions are accurate. – 5 points
· Each question has a reference citation in APA format;
reference list is included/accurate. – 2 points.
· Responses are written in student’s voice. – 3 points.
_____________________________________________________
_____________________
· What is Life Span development?
· What are the Characteristics of Development?
· Why is there diversity in Development?
· The study of human development is scientifically-based – how
do we know this?
· Theoretical perspectives are broad categorizations of
perspectives about development: humanistic, cognitive,

25. contextual, evolutionary, psychodynamic, behavioral. Describe
each of the perspectives listed.
· What are influences that contribute to diversity in
development? (cohort, age-graded, history-graded,
sociocultural-graded)
· Describe each of the key debates in the study of human
development.
· nature/nurture
· critical/sensitive
· lifespan/period
· continuous/discontinuous
· What are the roles of theory and hypothesis in scientific
inquiry related to the study of human development?