charli@cylixd.UUCP (Charli Phillips) (08/22/85)
This question is directed primarily pro-lifers who consider abortion wrong because it is the taking of an innocent human life. In a discussion yesterday on biology, I was reminded that a zygote can, of course, divide and become two or more separate individuals (twins). In addition, it is possible that two zygotes can merge and become a single, normal individual (chimera or mosaic). If twins and chimeras form, as I recall, it must be during the zygotic stage. Once cell differentiation begins to take place (i.e., the zygote becomes an embryo), merging or splitting are no longer possible. So, is the zygote already a "human life" as pro-lifers (particularly religious pro-lifers) understand the term? If it is, does this imply "twins" and "chimeras" of the soul/spirit? Is an abortion during the brief zygotic period the taking of what is not yet a human life? If so, when would it become human? When it becomes an embryo (at or shortly after implantation)? When it becomes a fetus (at about 8 weeks)? I am forced to concede that the zygote is not yet human. This does relieve, for me, the problem of "birth control" that acts by preventing implantation (IUD, "morning after" pills): they may be abortifacents, but I do not believe they take a human life. Comments, anyone? (No flames, please. I know some of you don't consider souls/spirits an issue, and some of you don't consider the developing organism alive at all - some of us do, so let us discuss this a bit!) charli