Final answer:
Conception, pregnancy, and fetal development start with fertilization, followed by three trimesters of development, and end with labor and delivery. It's a complex interplay of genetic inheritance and environmental factors, mitigated by hormones, resulting in the birth of an infant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The biological process involved in conception, pregnancy, and fetal development begins with fertilization of an egg by a sperm, forming a zygote. This single cell undergoes mitosis, dividing and specializing into different cells and tissues. The pregnancy journey is divided into three trimesters, each marked by specific developmental milestones. During the first trimester, vital body structures and organs such as the heart and liver begin to form. The second trimester continues the organs’ development, while the third trimester involves significant growth of the fetus, culminating in labor and delivery, which consists of three stages: contractions, delivery of the fetus, and expulsion of the placenta, all driven by hormones.
Pregnancy prevention can be achieved through various contraception methods, and for those facing infertility issues, assisted reproductive technologies offer a solution. The entire process from fertilization to birth is a delicate balance of genetic material from the parents and environmental factors influencing the numerous cell divisions and specializations required to form a fully functional infant.