HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: PRENATAL STAGE

Human Development is the scientific study of the changes that occur in people as
they age, from conception until death.
THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS OF DEVELOPMENT
Genetics is the science of heredity.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a very special kind of molecule (the smallest
particle of a substance that still has all the properties of that substance). DNA
consists of two very long sugar-phosphate strands, each linked together by certain
chemical elements called amines or bases arranged in a particular pattern. Each
section of DNA containing a certain sequence (ordering) of these amines is called a
gene. These genes are located on rod-shaped structure called chromosomes,
which are found in the nucleus of a cell.
Humans have a total of 46 chromosomes in each cell of their bodies. Twenty-three
of these chromosomes come from the mothers egg and the other 23 from the
fathers sperm. Most characteristics are determined by 22 such pairs, called the
autosomes. The last pair determines the sex of the person.
Dominant genes are more active in influencing the trait are called dominant. A
dominant gene will always be expressed in the observable trait.
Recessive genes tend to recede, or fade, into the background when paired with a
more dominant gene. Several recessive genes carry genetic disorders such as
Klinefelters Syndrome, Trisomy 21, Turners syndrome.
PRENATAL DEVELOPMENT
FERTILIZATION, THE ZYGOTE
When an egg and a sperm unite in the process of fertilization, the resulting single
cell will have a total of 46 chromosomes and is called a zygote.
Pre-natal development is divided into three periods: 1) Germinal period 2)
Embryonic Period 3) Fetal Period
GERMINAL PERIOD lasts 8-14 days. The zygote divides many times through
mitosis, forming the blastula, a hollow ball of cells about the size of the head of a
pin. When the blastula reaches the uterus, it implants tendrils from its outer layer
into the blood vessels of the uterine wall.
EMBRYONIC PERIOD will lasts from 2 weeks after conception to 8 weeks. During
this short time, every major organ takes shape in at least a primitive form, in a
process called organogenesis. By the end of 8 weeks after conception, the embryo
is about 1-inch long and has primitive eyes, nose, lips, teeth, and little arms and
legs, as well as a beating heart. Although no organ is fully developed or completely
functional at this time, nearly all are there.
FETAL PERIOD lasts from the ninth week of pregnancy until birth of the child. The
fetuss length increases by about 20 times and its weight increases from about 1

ounce at 2 months to an average of a little over 7 pounds at birth. Muscles begin to

contract in the 3rd month. The fetus is only about 3 inches long, but it can swallow,
digest food, and urinates
During the second trimester, more refined activities appear(including thumb
sucking), and by the end of this period the sensory organ are functioning.
Middle of the ninth month, the fetus is so large, and already in fetal position. The
mothers uterus contracts at irregular intervals during the last month of pregnancy.