Define Personhood

The debate over whether a human fetus is indeed human, has personhood, has taken on a life of its own—quite literally! While some argue that a fetus is merely a “potential” human, others, armed with scientific evidence, assert that from the moment of conception, we are dealing with a unique human being – a person. Let’s dive into the absurdity of the argument against fetal personhood.

The Zygote: The Tiny Hero of Our Story

Imagine a zygote—a single cell formed when sperm meets egg—as the superhero in our tale. This microscopic entity is not just any cell; it carries within it the complete genetic blueprint for a human being. Dr. Jerome Lejeune, known as the “Father of Modern Genetics,” stated unequivocally, “To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion…it is plain experimental evidence” [8].

So, if you’re still debating whether this zygote is human, you might as well argue whether a caterpillar is a butterfly. Spoiler alert: it’s just waiting for the right conditions to emerge!

The Fetus: A Growing Individual

As our zygote grows into an embryo and eventually a fetus, it continues to develop all the hallmarks of humanity. Medical textbooks consistently affirm that life begins at conception, with Dr. Keith L. Moore noting that “Each of us started life as a cell called a zygote” [5].

Now, picture this: if we were to apply the same logic used by some to deny fetal personhood to other life forms, we might conclude that puppies aren’t really dogs until they can fetch! But science doesn’t play fetch; it plays by the rules of biology.

The Absurdity of Defining Personhood

The argument against recognizing a fetus as human often hinges on arbitrary milestones—like brain activity or physical resemblance to an adult. Some suggest personhood starts at 14 days post-fertilization when the embryo becomes more distinct. However, this notion is akin to saying that someone isn’t really an adult until they can do their own taxes!

Dr. Alfred Bongiovanni from the University of Pennsylvania argues against this line of thinking: “I am no more prepared to say that these early stages represent an incomplete human being than I would be to say that the child prior to puberty is not a human being” [8].

The Comedy of Misunderstanding

If we were to apply the same reasoning about personhood to adults, we might conclude that anyone who needs help opening a jar isn’t really an adult yet! Imagine the chaos at dinner parties—“Sorry, I can’t let you in; you struggled with that pickle jar!”

Conclusion: Science Speaks

In conclusion, scientific consensus strongly supports the view that life begins at conception. From fertilization onward, we have a distinct human organism with its own DNA and developmental trajectory [10]. So next time someone argues about fetal personhood like it’s up for debate, remind them that science has already made its ruling.

The absurdity lies not in the question itself but in the refusal to acknowledge what science has clearly established: from zygote to fetus, we are dealing with human life at every stage. So let’s embrace our inner scientists and recognize that every tiny hero deserves their due respect!

Citations:

[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5499222/

[2] https://scitechdaily.com/when-does-human-life-truly-begin-harvard-scientists-explore-a-new-perspective/

[3] https://www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/when-does-personhood-begin

[4] https://preborn.com/35-powerful-pro-life-quotes/

[5] https://sacfl.org/blog/it-uncertain-when-human-life-begins

[6] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2672893/

[7] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7245522/

[8] https://www.epm.org/resources/2011/Apr/27/when-does-life-begin-quotes-many-sources/

[9] https://www.akleg.gov/basis/get_documents.asp?docid=31381

[10] https://lozierinstitute.org/a-scientific-view-of-when-life-begins/

[11] https://acpeds.org/position-statements/when-human-life-begins