This book focuses on the use of animal models to study various human defects. It summarizes our current understanding of a variety of common human birth defects and the essential role of animal models in shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths, and cost billions of dollars in care for those affected. Unfortunately, the lack of a clear understanding of the mechanisms leading to many of these developmental disorders has hindered effective prevention and early intervention strategies. Studies using animal models have provided essential insights into several human birth defects. This book serves as a valuable reference resource for researchers and graduate students who are interested in learning the basic principles as well as the latest advances in the study of the mechanisms of human birth defects.

Scientific Frontiers in Developmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment reviews advances made during the last 10-15 years in fields such as developmental biology, molecular biology, and genetics. It describes a novel approach for how these advances might be used in combination with existing methodologies to further the understanding of mechanisms of developmental toxicity, to improve the assessment of chemicals for their ability to cause developmental toxicity, and to improve risk assessment for developmental defects. For example, based on the recent advances, even the smallest, simplest laboratory animals such as the fruit fly, roundworm, and zebrafish might be able to serve as developmental toxicological models for human biological systems. Use of such organisms might allow for rapid and inexpensive testing of large numbers of chemicals for their potential to cause developmental toxicity; presently, there are little or no developmental toxicity data available for the majority of natural and manufactured chemicals in use. This new approach to developmental toxicology and risk assessment will require simultaneous research on several fronts by experts from multiple scientific disciplines, including developmental toxicologists, developmental biologists, geneticists, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians.

This book focuses on the use of animal models to study various human defects. It summarizes our current understanding of a variety of common human birth defects and the essential role of animal models in shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths, and cost billions of dollars in care for those affected. Unfortunately, the lack of a clear understanding of the mechanisms leading to many of these developmental disorders has hindered effective prevention and early intervention strategies. Studies using animal models have provided essential insights into several human birth defects. This book serves as a valuable reference resource for researchers and graduate students who are interested in learning the basic principles as well as the latest advances in the study of the mechanisms of human birth defects.

Human reproductive cloning is an assisted reproductive technology that would be carried out with the goal of creating a newborn genetically identical to another human being. It is currently the subject of much debate around the world, involving a variety of ethical, religious, societal, scientific, and medical issues. Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human Reproductive Cloning considers the scientific and medical sides of this issue, plus ethical issues that pertain to human-subjects research. Based on experience with reproductive cloning in animals, the report concludes that human reproductive cloning would be dangerous for the woman, fetus, and newborn, and is likely to fail. The study panel did not address the issue of whether human reproductive cloning, even if it were found to be medically safe, would beâ€"or would not beâ€"acceptable to individuals or society.

Each year more than 4 million children are born with birth defects. This book highlights the unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of children and families in developing countries by preventing some birth defects and reducing the consequences of others. A number of developing countries with more comprehensive health care systems are making significant progress in the prevention and care of birth defects. In many other developing countries, however, policymakers have limited knowledge of the negative impact of birth defects and are largely unaware of the affordable and effective interventions available to reduce the impact of certain conditions. Reducing Birth Defects: Meeting the Challenge in the Developing World includes descriptions of successful programs and presents a plan of action to address critical gaps in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of birth defects in developing countries. This study also recommends capacity building, priority research, and institutional and global efforts to reduce the incidence and impact of birth defects in developing countries.

This book focuses on the use of animal models to study various human defects. It summarizes our current understanding of a variety of common human birth defects and the essential role of animal models in shedding light on the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. Birth defects are the leading cause of infant deaths, and cost billions of dollars in care for those affected. Unfortunately, the lack of a clear understanding of the mechanisms leading to many of these developmental disorders has hindered effective prevention and early intervention strategies. Studies using animal models have provided essential insights into several human birth defects. This book serves as a valuable reference resource for researchers and graduate students who are interested in learning the basic principles as well as the latest advances in the study of the mechanisms of human birth defects.

Animal experiments have contributed much to our understanding of mechanisms of disease and are important for determining new therapies. Animal Models of Human Disease reviews the latest research and developments in this field. - Discusses new discoveries, approaches, and ideas - Contributions from leading scholars and industry experts - Reference guide for researchers involved in molecular biology and related fields

Surprisingly, the beginning of a modern approach This collection of articles and commentaries is an to the problems of birth defects is relatively recent integration of information from many disciplines, and dates from Gregg's classical report in 1941 that and presents a comprehensive survey of both recent mothers who contracted rubella during the first tri and previously reported work related to the major mester of pregnancy gave birth to infants with severe aspects of birth defects. In particular, an attempt multiple anomalies. For the first time, an environ has been made to provide a critical assessment of mental agent was found to be teratogenic in man current concepts and to identify areas in need of and was documented in a thoroughly convincing further investigation. manner. Since then, many important discoveries The scope of this volume and space limitations and significant developments have been made, par precluded discussion of and reference to all papers ticularly in the areas of environmental teratogenesis, of relevance or importance: a work of the present hereditary mechanisms, and prenatal diagnosis. nature must necessarily be selective. Some good In recent years, there has been an impressive papers have been left out or given relatively little surge of interest in the causes and prevention of consideration. It is my hope that the list of Further birth defects. Undoubtedly this resulted not only References will be consulted and should compensate from the thalidomide tragedy, but also from the for this lack of completeness.

The definitive guide to genetic bone disorders, now revised and expanded with glossy photographs and radiographs "Brilliantly written and produced and deserves to be on the shelves of all pediatric radiologists. It should also be available to geneticists, counselors, and pediatricians." --Radiology This updated and expanded fourth edition of Bone Dysplasias presents age-related radiographs, photographs and clinical guidelines for more than 250 rare constitutional skeletal diseases. Focusing on diagnostically essential imaging and clinical features, each chapter is supplemented with prognostic and therapeutic information, a guide to differential diagnoses, and a short list of the most relevant publications. Organized in accordance with the most recent International Nosology and Classification of Genetic Skeletal Disorders, this new Bone Dysplasias distills the insights of a small, world-class author team on diagnosis and clinical approaches to this most difficult class of disorders.

Animals and Medicine: The Contribution of Animal Experiments to the Control of Disease offers a detailed, scholarly historical review of the critical role animal experiments have played in advancing medical knowledge. Laboratory animals have been essential to this progress, and the knowledge gained has saved countless lives—both human and animal. Unfortunately, those opposed to using animals in research have often employed doctored evidence to suggest that the practice has impeded medical progress. This volume presents the articles Jack Botting wrote for the Research Defence Society News from 1991 to 1996, papers which provided scientists with the information needed to rebut such claims. Collected, they can now reach a wider readership interested in understanding the part of animal experiments in the history of medicine—from the discovery of key vaccines to the advancement of research on a range of diseases, among them hypertension, kidney failure and cancer.This book is essential reading for anyone curious about the role of animal experimentation in the history of science from the nineteenth century to the present.