malformations may be caused by genetic factors or environmental insults or a combination of the. two that occur during prenatal development. Most common congenital malformations demonstrate. multifactorial inheritance with a threshold effect and are determined by a combination of genetic and. environmental factors.
Naivete is a lack of knowledge or sophistication. An example of a person's naivete is when she falls for an obvious trick or prank. naivete. The state or quality of being inexperienced or unsophisticated, especially in being artless, credulous, or uncritical. An artless, credulous, or uncritical statement or act.
naive No one likes being called naive, since it means you lack sophistication or street smarts. A person who is too trusting can be criticized for being overly naive: You're so naive, you think that e-mail from the Nigerian prince is really going to make you a million dollars! Naive shares the same root as native, and originally meant natural or not artificial. It can still be used in a more positive meaning when describing a charming lack of artificiality, as in the naive style of folk art made by an untrained painter.