How does teratology study abnormal development in plants and animals?

Teratology is the branch of biology dedicated to the study of abnormal structural development in both plants and animals. It examines the causes, classification, and description of congenital malformations, which typically arise from interruptions during the early stages of an organism's development.12

Researchers in this field utilize several approaches to understand these deviations:

• Descriptive Studies: Scientists observe and classify anomalies to identify patterns in how development deviates from the normal course.32
• Experimental Analysis: By applying experimental methods, researchers can induce malformations in controlled settings to study the underlying mechanisms. This has confirmed that factors such as radiation, specific drugs, and infections can disrupt embryonic growth.134
• Genetic Research: Teratology incorporates knowledge of genetics to analyze how mutant genes or abnormal chromosome distributions contribute to structural defects.43

By studying these abnormalities, scientists gain critical insights into the complex processes of normal development.2