When Does Human Life Begin? What Does Science Say?
1. What determines if an organism is living or not? Answer: Any organism that exhibits the seven traits of lifemetabolism, excitability, conductivity, contractility, growth, differentiation and reproductionis living. 2. What is the first sign of human life? Answer: Dr. Bradley M. Patten, distinguished author of Foundations of Embryology, stated that every individual of the higher animals begins its life as a single cell, the fertilized ovum (egg) which is called a zygote. The zygote is formed by the fusion of one ovum from the female and one sperm from the male. Scientifically, this begins the life of a new individual. The 23 chromosomes from the father and the 23 chromosomes from the mother unite to form a unique human being. No more genetic input will ever be needed for the development of this new persons life! Embryology is the study of the growth and differentiation of an organism from conception to birth. 3. Does the growing embryo exhibit the seven signs of life? Answer: Yes, the
