Mary Jessie Floor

November 7, 2017
Biology 1090

News Analysis #1
The article entitled Animal Study Reveals How a Fever Early in Pregnancy Can Cause
Birth Defects, scientists found that increase in temperature, such as a fever, can cause birth
defects and hinder normal development of the fetus. The specific birth defects that a fever can
cause in the early stages of a womans pregnancy include birth defects to the face and heart.
According to the article, early stages of pregnancy are important for infant development, the
first trimester of pregnancy, a crucial time in an embryos development(Cunningham, 2017).
Scientists at Science Signaling put this to the test by experimenting with chicken embryos. They
stimulated a fever like environment for the chicken embryo to grow and develop in, mimicking a
feverlike condition. According to the experiment, this increase in temperature caused defects to
the structure of the chicks beak and heart. This is because, The elevation in a growing
embryos temperature, called hyperthermia, impacts the activity of heat-sensitive channels that
are present in cells necessary for an embryos development(Cunningham, 2017). Furthermore,
the scientists raised the temperatures from a standard, normal temperature of 37 degrees Celsius
to a high 40 to 41degress Celsius for the total time of an hour. They then compared the different
chicken embryos developing at a normal temperature of 37 degrees to the high fever chicken
embryos. The chicks exposed to a higher temperature developed craniofacial defects, such a s
a short upper beak, and cardiovascular defects(Cunningham, 2017)., whereas the other chicks
did not develop defects. Furthermore, after finding that two ion channels, TRPV4 and TRPV1
are present in neural cells within chickens they also experimented these with the chickens to see
their reactions. Treating the chicken embryos with a molecule blocking TRPV1 ion channel prior
to raising the temperatures of the incubator prevented and reduced the birth defects. However,
using a drug that activates TRPV4 in regular temperature conditions induced birth
defects(Cunningham, 2017). In conclusion, the study found that women who develop a fever in
the early stages of their pregnancy are potentially putting their unborn child at risk for defects to
their heart and facial structure.
When comparing the secondary source of the study to the primary source, there are some
differences. The overall structure and presentation of the information within the primary source
is more direct and scientifically supported. There is far less commentary from researchers or
professors from Universities in the primary source. In the secondary source, it is presented like
an article. It includes an introduction that attracts the attention of the reader, then it follows with
the experiment construction, findings, and conclusion. Overall, the major difference between the
two sources is the level of scientific professionalism. The article is more factual compared to the
primary source and the primary source is highly resembling of a scientific article.
This study that tested the correlation between a pregnant mothers temperature and birth
defects can have a profound affect on individuals who desire children. Women who are pregnant
will be highly cautious of avoiding contracting a fever after reading about this study. Therefore,
they might be carful of developing infections that are either viral or bacterial. The bodys process
of maintain proper and normal internal temperature, called thermoregulation, is heavily
determined and influenced by the environment. Women who are aware of the study will know
that an increase in temperature can affect the childs neural cells that are crucial during
embryonic development. They will try to avoid disruption to their internal temperature because
they want to prevent birth defects in their children. Birth defects in the United States has
increased and although can have a link to genetics, this study provides a further explanation for
parents. An increase of prospective parents who are pregnant want to avoid complications for
their child at all cost, especially birth defects. According to the article, In the United States,
more than 35,000 babies are born with congenital heart defects each year. Nearly 4,500 infants
are born with a malformation of the lip(Cunningham, 2017).
The scientists in the article who conducted the experiment were affiliated with a
nonpartisan group, Science Signaling. This article was also published by the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. Therefore, this study is not affiliated with a for-
profit corporation. However, if this study were affiliated with a for-profit corporation, the
conclusion of the study would be affected. Furthermore, if the study were also connected to a
for-profit institution such as a pharmacy, the results would be affected. The study would have to
provide an incentive for the reader to support the pharmacy. For example, the study would urge
families, especially mothers who are in their first trimester to purchase a specific pharmaceutical
drug. This pharmaceutical drug must in some way prevent the birth defects caused by an increase
in the bodys thermoregulation. This would definitely entice the reader to purchase the
pharmaceutical drug, even if the benefits of the drug are not true. This study, however, does not
rely on a for-profit group, therefore it is strictly a form of information to educate individuals. If it
were reliant on a for-profit corporation, I would be apprehensive of the study and its conclusion.
Id rather read a scientific article of information that demonstrates outcomes and effects rather
than an article that is directly linked to a product that the reader must buy. In an article posted by
Science Daily addressing a similar study conducted by the Duke University Medical Center, their
conclusions were slightly different. For example, the researchers involved in this study were
more concerned about educating women about preventing fevers. Furthermore, along with
testing on chicken embryos, Duke University Medical Center also tested with zebrafish. Lastly,
the researchers behind the study want to encourage women to ask their doctor before getting
pregnant whether they may benefit from taking a fever-reducer such as acetaminophen in the
event they develop a fever(Duke University Medical Center, 2017).
This article highly influenced my perspectives on the issue of infant birth defects. Before
reading about the study, I was unaware that high temperatures such as a fever can cause birth
defects in children, especially to their heart and facial structure. Also before reading the study, I
thought birth defects were primarily caused by genetics. After reading this study, there is more
explanation for birth defects in children. I have noticed that birth defects are not strictly based on
genetic influence so this provides a higher level of understanding and reasoning. I chose to
analyze this article because it is highly related to human biology. It also relates to the
development of the fetus and how it is affected not only by the mothers choices but also the
environment. I also now know how important the neural stem cells are to the healthy
development and growth of a child.
The article describing the study was constructed by the author to be easily understood by
a wide audience. The author presented the scientific information of the study in a way that was
understandable. Because the author also supported the scientific findings with relatable
information, it could be read and understood by anyone interested in the topic. Pictures of the
chicken embryos were also included in the article which made me appreciate the study more.
Because of the pictures, I could see the exact effects of the experiment and different temperatures
on the chick. For example, the picture of the embryo exposed to a higher temperature was shown
with a shorter upper beak whereas the chick growing in normal temperature developed a normal
upper beak size. Finally, the author left the reader with an incentive to formulate an opinion on
the issue. It made me analyze the situation and the effects. It educated me and made me
increasingly more aware of the topic. Now with the information I have gained by reading the
article, I can educate others on the study.
 Reference List

Cunningham, Aimee. "Animal study reveals how a fever early in pregnancy can cause birth
defects." Science News. October 18, 2017. Accessed November 07, 2017.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/animal-study-reveals-how-fever-early-pregnancy-can-
cause-birth-defects?mode=topic&context=69&tgt=nr.

Duke University Medical Center. "How fever in early pregnancy causes heart, facial birth
defects: Research in animals suggests some defects could be prevented with a fever reducer."
ScienceDaily. October 10, 2017. Accessed November 07, 2017.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171010144407.htm

M. Hutson et al. "Temperature-activated ion channels in neural crest cells confer maternal fever
associated birth defects." Science Signaling. October 10, 2017. Accessed November 07, 2017.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.aal4055