NAME: Godfrey P.

Mujuzi

STUDENT NO: S30281907

MODULE:

Current controversies in biomedical science

ASSIGNMENT:
When does life begin? Justify your answer and outline the implications of your suggested
answer for legislation and public policy.

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Signed Godfrey P.Mujuzi Date 3/01/08

 Advances in reproductive technologies have made it possible for genetic testing of
unborn embryos for purposes of determining the possibility of a particular disease
happening or the sex of the unborn very early after conception. The possible
consequences of this testing include abortion of the unborn child if it is determined to have
undesirable traits/ sex. Invitro fertilization allows for selection of desired embryos for
implantation. This means that the excess/undesired embryos are at some point discarded.

These two scenarios i.e. abortion and disposal of excess embryos raise a very
important ethical question: - When does life begin? For us to appreciate why this is
important we may have to adjust the question to read, when does Human life (Person
hood) begin so that the products of conception must enjoy human rights among them the
right to live?

There are two extreme answers to this question i.e. conception and birth. Obvious to
everybody is that there is no human life before conception and that there is life after birth.

Several different stages have been proposed as the beginning points of life and include: -

i. At conception.
ii. When blood first appears in the embryo.
iii. 14 days after conception.
iv. At childbirth.

It is very unlikely that a consensus will at some point because the reasons advanced for
each of the above is based on different values e.g. Scientific facts, religious or cultural
briefs.

To make us appreciate when life begins I will look at the reasons for each of the above
positions and then make final conclusion.

Life starts at conception.

This is the view held by many of the Christian based faiths especially the Catholic
Church. In support of this argument, pro-life activists urge that the zygote is just the
earliest form of human life. That is what we look like 9 months before we are born. Since
every one agrees that there is life at birth, by looking backwards, one can trace the
beginning of human life as a zygote, since we all accept that neither the sperm nor the
Ovum independently constitute human life. At conception the two join, form a unique DNA
code and human life begins all through until birth when everybody accepts there is human
life. Some religious sects teach that God injects a soul in the zygote at conception and that
the presence of the soul means that human life has begun.

When blood first appears in the embryo.

 People in support of this argument say blood is a sign of life. Because a person who
bleeds to death still looks intact, ancient people looked at blood as a fluid that drives life (it
contains life).
Some religions e.g. Judaism pay special respect to the magical fluid blood. It is believe
that blood contains life or its self is life as it is written in the bible: - for the life of a
creature is in blood (Leviticus 17:11 New international Version), and because the life of
each creature is blood (Leviticus 17:14, New international Version). For this group, there
is no life lost if no blood is shed. This would allow stem cell and embryo research for as
long as no blood is lost. The time when blood first appears is about 18-21 days after
conception, by putting a 4 days safety period; the date when life begins can safely be put
at 14 days.

.
14 days after conception

The 14th day also coincides with the development of primitive streak (figure 1). The
development of the primitive streak is considered by many bio ethicists as signifying the
formation of a unique potential human being 1. There are arguments that the embryo
should not be considered as separate individuals since before this time they can still
divided to form twins2

The Primitive streak (Surface view of embryo of a rabbit)

Figure 1. (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_streak). (arg. Embryonic disk., pr. Primitive streak)

At child birth.
 The Jewish law does not recognise the unborn child as a full-fledged human being.
The law takes to extremes when it even suggests that in the event that the feet come first
during childbirth, then the status of human being is delayed until body of the foetus is out 3.
This is really the extreme!

The nature of arguments about when life actually begins is very interesting.
Arguments are based on scientific, religious, or cultural beliefs. A religious person will only
quote scientific facts if they support his point. The same applies to the scientists and
cultural groups quoting the other source is only if they can find a point to support their
position. Since the reasons are diverse and based on different beliefs, it is unlikely that a
consensus will be reached. One has to take a side before any of the suggested points at
which life begins makes sense e.g. for Christians who believe in the soul being injected by
God at conception and that life begins there are unlikely to even listen to other argument
for Gods word is supreme. The unfortunate thing is that most individuals belong to at
least two or more groups i.e. many scientist are Christians as well! It is therefore
important, for the sake of improvement of human life to find a compromising solution (win-
win situation).

In my view, life begins at conception. This is because when the sperm fertilises the
ovum, a new life begins. Life will then continue through zygote, embryo, foetus, birth,
childhood, adult, and old age and under normal circumstances death thereafter. It is
therefore not right to manipulate/destroy cells after fertilisation. I however believe that well
as life exists at conception, the primitive cells are under developed and could be used in
research/ assisted reproductive techniques until a certain time during pregnancy and
obviously before birth (will not accept the Jewish argument!). This point to me is the point
at which the Primitive streak develops because it coincides with the appearance of blood
in the embryo but also this is when the other organs start to develop. Stem cell research
and other assisted reproductive techniques should therefore be done before this day.
Other interventions in pregnancy older than 14 days should be purely on medical advise/
risk to mother if she continues to carry this pregnancy.

References

1. http://www.bioethics.gov/reports/cloningreport/fullreport.html

2. Nancy L. Jones, "Human cloning-embryo style: Deliverance or captivity?," The

Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, 2001-NOV-28, at: http://www.cbhd.org/

3. Ask the Rabbi: Abortion - Yes or No," at: http://www.aish.com/#

4. http://www.religioustolerance.org/abo_when4.htm