Mlpaddict

Mlpaddict t1_j0bbm7f wrote

Edited: It seems I am mistaken.

Teratogens affect the developing fetus and not the germ cells themselves. The changes that teratogens make while awful are not heritable (will not be passed down).

In my defense, I was told the definition while working in a chem lab by a smarter colleague. I'd love to strike through my reply, but I don't know how.

Well it depends. Certain chemicals are labelled carcinogenic, which are scary. Others are labelled teratogenic. Those ones are particularly scary because they're know to alter your germ cells. Carcinogenic means it will cause mutations that possibly lead to cancer.

Teratogenic means the chemical can make changes to your egg or sperm cells. That will affect your children.

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