The Beginning of Human Life: The Zygote as the Genesis
To be repeated slowly. “Zygote … Human … Life.” Pause here, “Zygote … Human … Life”
The question of when human life begins is a profound and often contentious issue. However, scientific evidence supports the thesis that human life begins at the moment a zygote is formed. This argument is grounded in the understanding that the formation of a zygote marks the creation of a new, genetically unique individual. The presence of a unique strand of DNA within the zygote is a definitive marker of life, identifying the species to which it belongs. It is in fact, beyond question, a (repeat slowly) HUMAN … LIFE. And in the case of a human zygote, its elimination is tantamount to the extermination of a HUMAN LIFE.
Formation of the Zygote: The Inception of Life
The process of fertilization, where a sperm cell fuses with an egg cell, results in the formation of a zygote. This single cell is the starting point of a new human organism. According to scientific literature, the zygote contains a complete set of 46 chromosomes, which is a unique combination of genetic material from both parents. This genetic material, or DNA, is the blueprint for the continued development of a new human being.
Dr. Jerome Lejeune, a renowned geneticist, stated, “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 of opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention. It is plain, experimental evidence” [2]. This underscores the scientific consensus that life begins at conception, with the formation of the zygote.
DNA: The Blueprint of Life
DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms. The zygote’s DNA is unique and distinct from that of the mother and father. This genetic uniqueness is what defines the zygote as a new individual of the human species. A Human Life.
The discovery of the double helix structure of DNA by Watson and Crick in 1953 was pivotal in understanding how genetic information is replicated and passed on to new cells [1]. This discovery has led to the recognition that the zygote, with its unique DNA, is the beginning of a new human life. The zygote’s DNA not only identifies it as human but also contains all the information necessary for the development of a complete human being.
The Zygote as an Organism
The zygote is not merely a collection of cells; it is a complete organism with the inherent capacity to develop into a fully-formed human being. It is important to note that simply because the zygote is not a fully-formed human being doesn’t make it any less a human life. As noted by Carrasco and Ventura-Juncá, “The zygote has a new genetic structure, distinct from that of the ovum and of the spermatozoid, distinct from those of the parents. This new genome, whose fundamental structure will be maintained throughout the development, identifies the unicellular embryo as biologically human” [1]. This highlights the fact that the zygote is a self-organizing entity with its own internal principles of movement and change, directing it towards its natural development.
The Zygote, As a Human Life Carries with it Ethical Implications
Given that the zygote is a new human life, its termination is ethically significant. Its termination is as dramatic as thrusting a knife through your 10 year old sons heart. The elimination of a zygote is the elimination of a human life. This perspective is supported by scientific evidence and has profound implications for discussions on abortion and human rights. As articulated by the Open Arms Real Choices Clinic, “A unique human person exists immediately at the moment of conception” [2]. This recognition calls for the protection of human life from the very beginning. It is for this reason Pro Life Payments was created; to be the for-profit arm of the Pro-Life Movement – to save more babies than charities can on their own.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the formation of a zygote marks the beginning of a new human life. The unique DNA within the zygote identifies it as a member of the human species and signifies the start of an organized and self-directed process of development. The scientific evidence is clear: the zygote is not just a potential human being but an actual human being at the earliest stage of development. Therefore, the termination of a zygote is the termination of a human life, a fact that carries significant ethical and moral weight.
Citations:
[1] https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0716-97602011000200013&script=sci_arttext
[2] https://realchoicesclinic.com/when-does-life-begin/
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245522/
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5499222/
[5] https://www.press.muni.cz/media/3019066/answers_to_all_questions.pdf