James G. Wilson

Who was James G. Wilson?

James G. Wilson was an embryologist and anatomist, known for his Six Principles of Teratology. In 1960 he co-founded The Teratology Society, and was since then one of its most active members.

The James G. Wilson Publication Award is annually presented in recognition of the best paper accepted or published in the journal Teratology.

Wilson's 6 principles Along with this new awareness of the in utero vulnerability of the developing mammalian embryo came the development and refinement of The Six Principles of Teratology which are still applied today. These principles of teratology were put forth by Jim Wilson in 1959 and in his monograph Environment and Birth Defects.[8] These principles guide the study and understanding of teratogenic agents and their effects on developing organisms: Susceptibility to teratogenesis depends on the genotype of the conceptus and the manner in which this interacts with adverse environmental factors. Susceptibility to teratogenesis varies with the developmental stage at the time of exposure to an adverse influence. There are critical periods of susceptibility to agents and organ systems affected by these agents.