| Cases of phocomelia in the early 1960's in Germany and Australia led to the identification of thalidomide as a human teratogen. |
| Tragically it was discovered to cause phocomelia, a congenital malformation of the limbs. |
| This was in spite of such FDA victories as the ban of thalidomide, which caused phocomelia in more than 8000 babies in Europe, where the drug was freely used. |
| The same of course has happened with thalidomide and the causation of phocomelia in human embryos. |
| The most well-known defect, a severe shortening of the arms or legs with flipper-like hands or feet, is called phocomelia. |
| Babies were born with hands and feet attached directly to the body, a condition known as phocomelia. |
