Rubella affects only a small percent of the offspring of mothers who contact the virus within 2 weeks of conception, whereas it affects one half of the offspring of mothers infected during the first month following conception. How can these statistics best be explained?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The timing of exposure to a teratogen like rubella significantly influences its impact on the developing fetus, with the risk of affecting the offspring increasing if the mother is infected later in the first month of pregnancy compared to within the first two weeks.

Rubella Affects Only a Small Percent of the Offspring of Mothers