A woman in Honduras worked in a field treated with pesticides during her pregnancy. Her son was subsequently born with no arms or legs. Her pesticide exposure likely occurred during a(n) _____ period of prenatal development.
A) critical
B) early
C) late
D) sensitive

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Critical period is the specific time period during prenatal development when a particular structure/organ system is developing. Exposure to teratogens (environmental agents that can cause birth defects) during this period can lead to severe congenital anomalies like missing limbs, organs, or even death. In this case, the woman was exposed to pesticides during her pregnancy, which must have affected the critical period of limb development of the fetus, leading to the birth defect.

A Woman in Honduras Worked in a Field Treated with Pesticides