The science of abortion: When does life begin?

[redleghunter]

An older article, however most important to the abortion debate. Unfortunately, the abortion debate is immersed in political speech and worse psuedo philosophy. The article below shows how much people will ignore clear scientific definitions to avoid calling pre-born human life, just that...Human. The mental gymnastics used to avoid the scientific evidence is most concerning considering we are dealing with life and death.

I have one request for anyone disagreeing with the evidence presented below. Please offer opposing scientific evidence which concludes human life does not begin at conception. Secondly, since this is a Christian only section, please present either your Biblical exegesis in favor for elective abortions or your church teaching on elective abortions.

Elective abortion means the pregnant woman is healthy and the pre-born baby is healthy and yet the woman decides to abort.


The science of abortion: When does life begin?


By James D. Agresti
June 10, 2014

In a recent interview, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) declared it is a scientific fact that “human life begins at conception.” He also said that “leaders on the left” who “wag their fingers” about the “settled science” of global warming are hypocrites when it comes to science, and someone should ask them if they accept the “consensus of scientists that says that human life begins at conception.”

Going further, the senator added, “I’d like to see someone ask that question. It’s never asked. And that’s not even a debatable thing, we can actually see that happening. I mean, that is a proven fact. And yet that’s a scientific consensus they conveniently choose to ignore.”

In the wake of these remarks, MSNBC reporter Irin Carmon and Washington Post blogger Philip Bump pushed back at Rubio, asserting that:

• he made a “scientific blunder on abortion.” (Carmon)
• “conception” and “life” “aren’t scientific terms.” (Carmon)
• “the scientific experts we spoke with didn’t offer any consensus” on when life begins. (Bump)

However, as documented below, the facts of science support Rubio’s point and reveal that the claims of Carmon and Bump are scientifically baseless.

Science shows that life begins at conception

Contrary to Carmon’s allegation that “conception” and “life” are not scientific terms, both of these words are clearly defined in science dictionaries and widely used in scientific literature.

To cite just a few examples, the American Heritage Science Dictionary defines “conception” as “the formation of a zygote resulting from the union of a sperm and egg cell; fertilization.” (For reference, a zygote is the first stage of a human embryo.)

Likewise, the entry for “life” in the American Heritage Dictionary of Science states that life is “the form of existence that organisms like animals and plants have and that inorganic objects or organic dead bodies lack; animate existence, characterized by growth, reproduction, metabolism, and response to stimuli.”

Rubio’s statement that “human life begins at conception” is consistent with both of these definitions, because human zygotes display all four empirical attributes of life:

1. Growth – As explained in the textbook Essentials of Human Development: A Life-Span View, “the zygote grows rapidly through cell division.”

1. Reproduction – Per Human Sexuality: An Encyclopedia, zygotes sometimes form identical twins, which is an act of “asexual reproduction.” (Also, in this context, the word “reproduction” is more accurately understood as “reproductive potential” instead of “active reproduction.” For example, three-year-old humans are manifestly alive, but they can’t actively reproduce.)

1. Metabolism – As detailed in the medical text Human Gametes and Preimplantation Embryos: Assessment and Diagnosis, “At the zygote stage,” the human embryo metabolizes “carboxylic acids pyruvate and lactate as its preferred energy substrates.”

1. Response to stimuli – Collins English Dictionary defines a “stimulus” as “any drug, agent, electrical impulse, or other factor able to cause a response in an organism.” Experiments have shown that zygotes are responsive to such factors. For example, a 2005 paper in the journal Human Reproduction Update notes that a compound called platelet-activating factor “acts upon the zygote” by stimulating “metabolism,” “cell-cycle progression,” and “viability.”

Furthermore, the science of embryology has proven that the genetic composition of humans is formed during fertilization, and as the textbook Molecular Biology explains, this genetic material is “the very basis of life itself.”

In accord with the facts above, the textbook Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects directly states: “The zygote and early embryo are living human organisms.” This may be controversial from a political perspective, but the sciences of embryology and genetics leave no doubt as to when human life begins.

The science of abortion: When does life begin? - Just Facts

 

[Everybodyknows]

I think life starts before conception. The ovum and sperm are alive too and contain human genetic material. Life is a continuum and does not have a definable starting point. We never have a point where life begins because that would mean life comming from non life. My heart breaks for the billions of boys I've lost since age 12.

 

[Sabertooth]

I think life starts before conception.

Our gametes are regularly discarded in normal bodily processes, so they appear to be disposable in the absence of fertilization.

 

[Goatee]

Human life begins at conception. Before that it is not a 'human life' as that is only possible when the 2 meet, when God deigns it happen.

 

[SkyWriting]

An older article, however most important to the abortion debate. Unfortunately, the abortion debate is immersed in political speech and worse psuedo philosophy. The article below shows how much people will ignore clear scientific definitions to avoid calling pre-born human life, just that...Human. The mental gymnastics used to avoid the scientific evidence is most concerning considering we are dealing with life and death.

I have one request for anyone disagreeing with the evidence presented below. Please offer opposing scientific evidence which concludes human life does not begin at conception. Secondly, since this is a Christian only section, please present either your Biblical exegesis in favor for elective abortions or your church teaching on elective abortions.

Elective abortion means the pregnant woman is healthy and the pre-born baby is healthy and yet the woman decides to abort.


The science of abortion: When does life begin?


By James D. Agresti
June 10, 2014

In a recent interview, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) declared it is a scientific fact that “human life begins at conception.” He also said that “leaders on the left” who “wag their fingers” about the “settled science” of global warming are hypocrites when it comes to science, and someone should ask them if they accept the “consensus of scientists that says that human life begins at conception.”

Going further, the senator added, “I’d like to see someone ask that question. It’s never asked. And that’s not even a debatable thing, we can actually see that happening. I mean, that is a proven fact. And yet that’s a scientific consensus they conveniently choose to ignore.”

In the wake of these remarks, MSNBC reporter Irin Carmon and Washington Post blogger Philip Bump pushed back at Rubio, asserting that:

• he made a “scientific blunder on abortion.” (Carmon)
• “conception” and “life” “aren’t scientific terms.” (Carmon)
• “the scientific experts we spoke with didn’t offer any consensus” on when life begins. (Bump)

However, as documented below, the facts of science support Rubio’s point and reveal that the claims of Carmon and Bump are scientifically baseless.

Science shows that life begins at conception

Contrary to Carmon’s allegation that “conception” and “life” are not scientific terms, both of these words are clearly defined in science dictionaries and widely used in scientific literature.

To cite just a few examples, the American Heritage Science Dictionary defines “conception” as “the formation of a zygote resulting from the union of a sperm and egg cell; fertilization.” (For reference, a zygote is the first stage of a human embryo.)

Likewise, the entry for “life” in the American Heritage Dictionary of Science states that life is “the form of existence that organisms like animals and plants have and that inorganic objects or organic dead bodies lack; animate existence, characterized by growth, reproduction, metabolism, and response to stimuli.”

Rubio’s statement that “human life begins at conception” is consistent with both of these definitions, because human zygotes display all four empirical attributes of life:

1. Growth – As explained in the textbook Essentials of Human Development: A Life-Span View, “the zygote grows rapidly through cell division.”

1. Reproduction – Per Human Sexuality: An Encyclopedia, zygotes sometimes form identical twins, which is an act of “asexual reproduction.” (Also, in this context, the word “reproduction” is more accurately understood as “reproductive potential” instead of “active reproduction.” For example, three-year-old humans are manifestly alive, but they can’t actively reproduce.)

1. Metabolism – As detailed in the medical text Human Gametes and Preimplantation Embryos: Assessment and Diagnosis, “At the zygote stage,” the human embryo metabolizes “carboxylic acids pyruvate and lactate as its preferred energy substrates.”

1. Response to stimuli – Collins English Dictionary defines a “stimulus” as “any drug, agent, electrical impulse, or other factor able to cause a response in an organism.” Experiments have shown that zygotes are responsive to such factors. For example, a 2005 paper in the journal Human Reproduction Update notes that a compound called platelet-activating factor “acts upon the zygote” by stimulating “metabolism,” “cell-cycle progression,” and “viability.”

Furthermore, the science of embryology has proven that the genetic composition of humans is formed during fertilization, and as the textbook Molecular Biology explains, this genetic material is “the very basis of life itself.”

In accord with the facts above, the textbook Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects directly states: “The zygote and early embryo are living human organisms.” This may be controversial from a political perspective, but the sciences of embryology and genetics leave no doubt as to when human life begins.

The science of abortion: When does life begin? - Just Facts

The last group I want involved in my family reproduction process
is a group of scientists and their opinions.

Make no guidelines for others, lest you wish them to write rules for you in return.

 

[PapaZoom]

I think life starts before conception. The ovum and sperm are alive too and contain human genetic material. Life is a continuum and does not have a definable starting point. We never have a point where life begins because that would mean life comming from non life. My heart breaks for the billions of boys I've lost since age 12.

You've lost no one. The life of a human being begins at conception. That is a point you're missing. A sperm isn't a human being.

 

[PapaZoom]

The last group I want involved in my family reproduction process
is a group of scientists and their opinions.

Make no guidelines for others, lest you wish them to write rules for you in return.

Abortion takes the life of an innocent unborn human being. They are killed. In many cases scalded or dismembered to death. That is the point. That is abortion. It's not about reproduction. It's about the killing of little human beings.

 

[brinny]

Life begins when God "knits" us together in our mothers' wombs'.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb." ~Psalm 139:13

Precious.

 

[SkyWriting]

Abortion takes the life of an innocent unborn human being. They are killed. In many cases scalded or dismembered to death. That is the point. That is abortion. It's not about reproduction. It's about the killing of little human beings.

Currently, God terminates about 50% of all pregnancies.
Are you working on this problem?

 

[brinny]

What experience do you have in abortion or pregnancy?
How involved are you in the reproduction field?
Do you work with pregnant 5 to 10 year olds?
Is this a problem you plan to fix?
Will you be part of the solution?

Brother, 5-10 year olds, pregnant?

Pardon my surprise, but i was not aware that for instance a 5 year old could get pregnant?

 

[redleghunter]

The last group I want involved in my family reproduction process
is a group of scientists and their opinions.

Make no guidelines for others, lest you wish them to write rules for you in return.

The point was to establish what has been known for at least the past 150 years scientifically. Not to impose on your philosophical beliefs. However to better inform them.

 

[DrBubbaLove]

I think life starts before conception. The ovum and sperm are alive too and contain human genetic material. Life is a continuum and does not have a definable starting point. We never have a point where life begins because that would mean life comming from non life. My heart breaks for the billions of boys I've lost since age 12.

Respecting the otherwise abuse of natural processes is a different but related topic to the OP wanting opinions on abortions. The RCC has position on such unnatural things as well.

 

[SkyWriting]

The point was to establish what has been known for at least the past 150 years scientifically. Not to impose on your philosophical beliefs. However to better inform them.

I try not to involve philosophical scientists in the groin area.
Spiritually, life begins before conception.
This information is a couple thousand years old.

 

[DrBubbaLove]

Am surprised some people willing to die and/or commit violence (even on other people) to protect embryos of animals even bugs would fail to see the irony in their stand for pro-choice. Many of them do this while justifying there violence from seeing no appreciable difference between our rights to life than they grant to the animals they wish to protect.

 

[SkyWriting]

Brother, 5-10 year olds, pregnant?
Pardon my surprise, but i was not aware that for instance a 5 year old could get pregnant?

Yes, indeedy.
Now with a new reality in place, how do you plead
for the well-being of the mother/child?

Should we be rooting for the scientists?

List of youngest birth mothers

 

[brinny]

Yes, indeedy.
Now with a new reality in place, how do plead
for the well-being of the mother/child?

I'm still trying to absorb a 5 yr old and pregnancy.....

it doesn't compute

 

[SkyWriting]

Unfortunately, the abortion debate is immersed in political speech and worse psuedo philosophy.

The 10 Youngest Birth Mothers of All Time

 

[JackRT]

I'm still trying to absorb a 5 yr old and pregnancy.....

it doesn't compute

The youngest pregnancy I have ever heard of was a six year old in South America.

 

[SkyWriting]

I'm still trying to absorb a 5 yr old and pregnancy.....
it doesn't compute

A lot of the reality of a pregnant woman is outside the comprehension
of outsiders. They all need to mind their own affairs.

 

[JackRT]

It is obvious that both the female egg and the male sperm have a form of life but no one would call either a person. When they unite to form a zygote it certainly is alive. There is a potential person there and a great many people would claim that it actually is a person. Let us grant for a moment that the zygote is a person and let us call that person Mary. I choose a female name since all embryos are female until about the sixth or seventh week.

Now, we all know that a zygote develops into an embryo through the process of cell division. Every now and again the first cell division does not produce a two celled embryo but rather a second zygote --- identical twins. Did Mary suddenly become two persons? Was Mary two persons to begin with? Was Mary even a person to begin with? Let us set those questions aside for the moment and grant that the second zygote is also a person whom we shall call Margaret. It is entirely possible that one or both of these zygotes could divide again to result in triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets etc. The same question applies as to whether one person can became two, three or more persons. When does a person become a person?

These questions might be difficult enough but now it becomes even more complex. Sometimes two eggs are fertilized to form non-identical twins. Once again, let us call them Mary and Margaret. Rarely the two zygotes merge together again to form a two celled embryo. This is called a chimera. Who is this new embryo? Is it Mary or is it Margaret? This new embryo, this chimera, let us call it Mary, develops to term and is born. There is now no question at all that Mary is indeed a person. But here is the odd thing, some of the organs of Mary carry her genes but other organs carry the genes of her twin sister Margaret. So Margaret continues to exist within Mary or perhaps it is Mary within Margaret. Do we have two persons within a single body?

These very serious questions of person-hood arise only if we assume that the soul is infused at conception and that the brand new zygote is fully a person. Is there a more reasonable understanding? I believe there is. Personally I believe that the developing fetus becomes a person only when it is able to survive outside the womb. Sentience occurs at about the same point in the pregnancy very late in the second trimester. For this reason I am against abortion beyond the twentieth week except in very rare extreme circumstances.. Otherwise I believe that abortion should be legal, it should be safe, it should be available and it should be the woman’s informed choice but most important of all --- it should be rare. In conclusion, we should always keep in mind that there is no more powerful abortifacient in the world than poverty.