Should fertilization and/or syngamy form part of the biological definition of human embryo?
A number of the emerging technologies summarized in Table I do not involve the contribution of chromosomal DNA by both a sperm and an oocyte or the completion of syngamy (reproductive techniques 2, 5 7, 9 11 and 16 17). However, some of these techniques, if conducted using human materials, might have the potential to produce a live human birth. Given this, it would be expected that a human embryo would be created during the developmental processes initiated using these techniques. The inclusion of fertilization and syngamy as necessary elements in a definition of human embryo , would eliminate emerging technologies that have the potential (even if theoretical at present) to produce a new human being. Therefore, an absolute requirement for fertilization and/or syngamy may not be appropriate for the biological definition of a human embryo. Should the biological definition of human embryo exclude techniques combining DNA from more than one species? Some emerging technologies could theoret
