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A History of the Teratology Society -With Updates 2000-2010
Citation:
ROGERS, J. M., T. H. Shepard, M. Barr, Jr., R. L. Brent, A. Hendrickx, D. Kochhar, G. Oakley, AND W. J. Scott, Jr. A History of the Teratology Society -With Updates 2000-2010. BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH PART A: CLINICAL AND MOLECULAR TERATOLOGY. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Indianapolis, IN, 88(5):263-285, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
The Teratology is assembling a Teratology Primer which will be available on their website. Individual topics are briefly covered and represent a broad view ofthe science ofteratology. This chapter examines the potential long-term effects of exposure to environmental chemicals during development. In the few studies done to date, evidence is beginning to indicate that exposure to chemicals during development can have lasting effects on risk of various diseases later in life, including obesity, diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension.
Description:
Background: The 49-year history of the Teratology Society is reviewed. An abbreviated history is outlined in table form, along with listings of the Warkany Lectures, the Continuing Education Courses, and officers of the Society. The original article was updated to include the years 2000-2010. Methods: A year-by-year description of the events, including the scientific and social content of the annual meetings and changes in the business of the Society, is given, in many cases using comments from the past presidents. The valuable and unique diversity of the members is discussed and illustrated, presenting the disciplines and main research area of the presidents. The number of submitted abstracts and the various categories are tabulated, averaging the number and type over successive periods. A significant increase in the number of abstracts dealing with epidemiology and developmental biology is evident. The Society's development is compared with that of a human, and the question was asked (by Shephard et at 2000): Have we reached the maturational stage of old age or senescence, or is the Society still maturing gracefully? This question needs further discussion by all the members. By 2010, many positive changes are happening to revitalize the Society. Results: During the past 50 years, we have developed the scientific basis to prevent birth defects caused by rubella, alcoholism, and folate deficiency, as well as other prenatal exposures. We are now taking advantage of advances in many fields to begin shaping the Teratology Society of the 21 st century. Conclusions: We must now engage in the political battles to obtain the resources needed to conduct further research and to implement prevention programs, as well asto provide care and rehabilitation for persons with birth defects.
