Birth defects before epigenesis.
Physicians have tried to explain the origins of birth defects since antiquity. In early humoralist models, fetal anomalies were most often understood in terms of quantity and quality of male and female seed. Maternal imagination was also considered a key environmental influence on fetal development from Hippocrates, Galen, and into late 17th century preformation.
Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. holly.tucker@vanderbilt.edu
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D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics / Q000266:history*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000266:history*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010686:Philosophy, Medical / Q000266:history