How a Pregnant Woman's Choices Could Shape a Child's Health

It is no secret that an expectant mother’s exposure to certain chemicals can cause issues with her child’s physiology. The usual suspects include alcohol, tobacco, and, more recently BPA. For years, doctors have advised their pregnant patients to avoid contact with these substances without knowing exactly how they cause such damage.

Genetic researcher Dani Fallin has recently discovered one way in which a developing fetus can be affected by the environment. The field of epigenetic study is science's growing understanding of how certain genes are activated and deactivate as a child grows. By studying the disruption in gene activation, researchers have been finding links between certain chemicals and conditions such as autism and diabetes. Fallin hopes that her research encourages pregnant women to think before making decisions for themselves and their unborn children.

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