phocomelia :

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phocomelia


  • n  an abnormality of development in which the upper part of an arm or leg is missing so the hands or feet are attached to the body like stumps; rare condition that results from taking thalidomide during pregnancy

  • Lenz answered that thalidomide has been shown to cause phocomelia in rhesus and other monkey species in which the condition does not occur naturally.
  • It consisted of assorted internal malformations in newborn babies, plus an upsurge in one hitherto rare condition: phocomelia or "seal limbs.

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