Following the Science on the Issue of Fetal Personhood

    

 This is in response to Wesley Smith’s National Review post, “Medical Journal Screed

Decries All Fetal Personhood Laws,” 18 October 2025.

When does a developing fetus becomes “human?”  Does human life begin at conception

or sometime later in the pregnancy? When, later in the pregnancy? What if you are wrong

about your dating by even a few days? Could you mistakenly be ending a human life because it

does not meet your assigned definitions? Does the developing fetus have legal rights as a

person or are they/is it not yet human? Is it not obvious that an ectopic pregnancy is a

miscarriage and that it becomes a triage situation and therefore, not an abortion?

The overall conversation is seen by many as a religious question, and it is, but a rational

and scientific case can be made for opposition to abortion without any resort to religious

arguments.  Many people will not listen to anything even remotely religious, but they might

 listen if the discussion can be framed in a scientific way.

            We have often been told to "follow the science." This is a good and valid idea. In order to

remain completely uniform in thought, this advice should be consistently applied. This article

will present, in a highly simplified way, the scientific information necessary for a case against

abortion and some forms of birth control.

This is a very simplified presentation of human conception and the passage of genetic

information from the parents to the offspring. The information may seem to be complicated and

overwhelming, but at least a simplified basic understanding is necessary for a scientific critique

of the practice of abortion. That is what I will attempt to provide for you here.  It is necessary to

start at the beginning.

DNA (deoxy-ribonucleic acid) is a molecule consisting of two strands of nucleotide

bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) paired together in two long strings arranged in

 the shape of a helix.  DNA, a very complex and, at the same time, a very elegantly simple

 molecule, is present in every cell of the human body and contains, in coded form, all the

information necessary to build and maintain the entire body.

Combinations of the four bases in pairs contain the entire human genome; the genetic

code which determines a person's sex, hair color, voice, skin color, height, body type, number of

fingers and toes, fat distribution, eye color, genetic diseases, intelligence level, possible allergies,

digestion, athletic ability, blood group typing, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. The codes literally

determine everything about your physical body and genetic science clearly says that all the

information about you as a human individual is present from the moment of conception.

A very simplified explanation is this: each spermatozoan carries 23 chromosomes

containing copies of the father’s DNA and each egg cell contains 23 chromosomes containing

copies of the mother’s DNA. At fertilization, the two sets of chromosomes unite to produce the

zygote which has a total of 46 chromosomes (23 from the father and 23 from the

mother). There are, of course, abnormal situations when this process is distorted and birth

abnormalities result.

So, half of the individual’s genetic information comes from the mother and half from the

father. The chromosomal pattern in the fertilized egg is a hybrid of the coded instructions

present in each of the two source cells, made from them but individually different from each of

them; a fully separate genetic code, a totally distinct individual. To the mother’s immune

system, the fertilized egg is “Not Me,” it is a foreign body.   

The human female produces ova (eggs) which her body recognizes as "Me." Except in

rare cases of autoimmune disease, such as in immune oophoritis, the immune system leaves

the ovaries and the eggs alone. In autoimmune oophoritis, the body's immune system attacks

the ovaries as being “Not Me” and causes ovarian inflammation, severe damage, and fibrosis.

            Normally, when a sperm wins the frantic race to the egg, the egg immediately allows

the spermatozoan to enter and mix the DNA which it carries with the DNA which is present in

 the egg.  The resultant mixture of chromosomes is "Not Me," which presents a severe problem

because, if the body’s immune system is functioning properly it does not like "Not Me" and it

begins to makes moves to get rid of the "Not Me." It attacks "Not Me" to protect itself from

viruses, bacteria, and other organisms like yeast or protozoa. This is the reason why transplant

patients must take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of their lives. The transplanted tissues are

"Not Me" and would be killed if the body’s defenses are not properly suppressed.

To protect itself, the fertilized egg starts making proteins which tell the body, "move

on, there's nothing to see here." The proteins serve to hide the "Not Me." The body only sees

the "Me" and leaves the transplanted tissues alone.

Once the embryo implants and begins to increase in size, it rapidly becomes too "Not

Me" for the immune system to ignore, so the placenta takes over, releasing hormones, such as

progesterone, human chorionic gonadotropin, and other factors, to prevent rejection of the

fetus.

            The placenta is a temporary organ which contains both maternal and fetal tissue. Most

people recognize that the placenta nourishes the fetus, provides the fetus with oxygen, and

allows in some of the mother’s protective antibodies since the fetus’ immune system is not yet

functioning. It also allows the fetus’ waste products out into the mother’s blood system where

 they can then be properly eliminated. What people may not realize is that the placenta also

acts as a barrier and filter between the mother “Me” and the fetus “Not Me,” protecting the

“Not Me” from being killed. 

            Because of the placenta’s construction, the fetus and the mother effectively never come

into contact with one another.  Under the best of circumstances, the two bloodstreams never

mix. There are even two different types of hemoglobin at play, adult and fetal. The mother and

the fetus may also have different blood serotypes.

Remember that the fetus is "Not Me, " foreign tissue to the body of the mother. So,

what you have is, mother ("Me") and fetus ("Not Me"). Because the fetus has been effectively

disguised, the mother’s immune system, under normal situations, does not attempt to kill the

foreign material, the developing baby. 

This scientific information is one reason why there is so much controversy over when the

fetus becomes a separate, individual, and legally protected human, but this argument will not

convince everyone. The fertilized egg is clearly human tissue and is clearly genetically distinct

from tissue derived from the mother. None of this can answer the question of whether human

life legally begins at conception, at the first detectable heartbeat, or later.

Thirty-eight of the United States recognize the “unborn child” as a human and, in 2004,

United States President George W. Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act which views

unborn children as humans if they are injured or killed during the commission of specific federal

crimes such as terrorism. The United States courts have declared that these laws do not apply

to legal abortions.  My question is, “Why not?”  Is the only difference that the murdered child is

wanted and the aborted child is not? 

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If you wish to know more, see these links.

Very good:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss3/DNA2.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss3/dna.html&h=543&w=351&sz=42&tbnid=8CP_Dkmi3Hub9M:&tbnh=84&tbnw=54&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dimage%2B%2526%2BDNA%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=image+%26+DNA&usg=__DNAoHOES8pL7lQS_Oaj3PGM13so=&hl=en&sa=X&ei=uDw6UOT9OY2s8QTIrYG4AQ&ved=0CCMQ9QEwBA

            Kent, Athol, “Why Doesn’t a Mother Reject Her Fetus?” Reviews in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2009, Winter, : 2(1): 67-68. This web page is from the Journal Article Summary Service of the National Library of Medicine and is published by the National Institutes of Health. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2672992/  (A quotation from this article, “It is a wonder of pregnancy that the fetus is not rejected by the mother’s immune system.”)

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 Simplified:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

DNA to RNA to proteins

http://dna-rna.net/

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Detailed information on proteins:

http://www2.chemistry.msu.edu:80/faculty/reusch/VirtTxtJml/proteins.htm

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Chromosomes

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/D/Down.gif&imgrefurl=http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/C/Chromosomes.html&h=318&w=430&sz=29&tbnid=4sRt4QRwm30RKM:&tbnh=83&tbnw=112&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dimages%2B%2526%2Bchromosomes%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=images+%26+chromosomes&usg=__9giWb2_ajTIbvehrthPPLzjuZwA=&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hkA6UJ36EoT89gS6joGwCg&ved=0CBoQ9QEwAQ

http://images.yourdictionary.com/chromosome

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The Unborn Victims of Violence Act (Public Law 108-212-Apr. 1, 2004

https://www.congress.gov/108/plaws/publ212/PLAW-108publ212.pdf

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Arguments on the Abortion Issue, For and Against

https://www.britannica.com/procon/abortion-debate/Con-Quotes

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Follow the Science

        

        We have been told repeatedly to "follow the science," usually in connection to COVID-19 

immunization. That is good advice and my wife and I are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and other 

viruses.

        To be fully consistent, there is another situation where I would hope that everyone would consider

following the science. 

        The human female produces ova (eggs) which her body recognizes as "me." Except in rare cases of

 autoimmune disease, the woman's body leaves the ovaries and the eggs alone. In autoimmune

oophoritis, the body's immune system attacks the ovaries causing inflammation, severe damage, and

fibrosis.

        Normally, when a sperm wins the frantic race to the egg, the egg immediately allows the 

spermatozoan to enter and mix its DNA with the DNA of the egg.  The mixture of DNA is 50% "me"

and 50% "not me."

        If the body is functioning properly it does not like "not me" and makes moves to get rid of "not 

me." It attacks "not me" to protect itself from viruses, bacteria, and other organisms like yeast or 

protozoa. This is the reason transplant patients have to take anti-rejection drugs. The transplanted 

tissues are "not me."

        To protect itself, the fertilized egg starts making masking proteins to tell the body "move on, 

there's nothing  to see here." The masking proteins hide the "not me." The body only sees the "me."

        Once the embryo implants and begins to increase in size, it becomes too "not me" to ignore. That's

where the placenta takes over. It has many functions but one function is to release hormones and other

factors to prevent rejection of the fetus. Remember that the fetus is "not me." So what you have is

mother ("me") and fetus ("not me.") 

        This is one reason why there is so much controversy over when the fetus becomes a separate,

 individual human.

 

Feticide Laws

On Tuesday, 23 October 2012, police in Walker, Louisiana (USA) responded to a 911 call to find that a man, possibly under the influence of psychoactive drugs, had stabbed his seven month pregnant wife and cut the baby out of her body.  There is an unconfirmed report that the child was stabbed in the head. 

The mother survived but the baby died.  The father has been charged with one charge of feticide and one charge of attempted second degree murder.  Second degree murder is a non-premeditated killing from an attack so dangerous that a result of death is a real possibility.

Thirty-eight of the fifty United States recognize the “unborn child” as a human homicide victim.  The laws vary in their details, with some covering differing periods of a pregnancy.

In 2004, then United States President George W. Bush signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act which views unborn children as humans if they are injured or killed during the commission of a list of specific federal crimes, including terrorism.

The United States courts have declared that these laws do not apply to legal abortions.  My question is, “Why not?”  Is the only difference that the murdered child is wanted and the aborted child is not? 

Why Life Begins at Conception, Part 5

The scientific facts are not at issue.  Human life demonstrably begins at conception.  Froma Harrop, a columnist and editorial board member with the Providence (Rhode Island) Journal, has said, “the issue isn’t when life begins, but when personhood begins.”

“Personhood” has become an international issue, heavily debated by religion, philosophy, and law.  Does the fetus become a person at conception, at “quickening,” at birth, or sometime else during its intrauterine development?  When is it acceptable to “terminate” (abort) the fetus and when does it become impermissible?  Is there a set date during the fetal development or is it different for each fetus?  If it is different for each fetus, who has the legal right to determine when that date occurs?  What if the incorrect date is set?  Is termination (abortion) permissible for rape or incest or if the children carries a genetic disease?  If the date is missed, can other factors make termination (abortion) acceptable?  Is the possibility of a mistake in developmental dating a strong deterrent to termination (abortion)?

Ultimately, these issues will be decided by the secular courts in each country.  The trend in some countries is to allow abortions with increasing flexibility.  There is one faction which would allow partial birth abortion.  Some would deny medical care to infants who survive unsuccessful abortions.

Those of us who believe that personhood is established at conception may have to remain as loyal dissenters.  We may have to accept the legal reality but we do not have to remain silent.

Some may be faced with hard choices.  They may have to withdraw from the system if they are a nurse or physician who would be forced to participate in an abortion procedure.  Difficult choices may become necessary.

Why Life Begins At Conception, Part 1

Over the next few days I will be posting, in several parts, on the subject, Why Life Begins at Conception.  The posts may not be on consecutive days but they will make the most sense to you if they are read in consecutive order. 

The subject has become a very hot topic in the United States because of the poorly thought out comments (I would say something more harsh except for the nature of this blog) of one of the current United States Representatives. 

The current controversy concerns abortion and certain types of contraception and the timing of when a developing fetus becomes “human.”  Does life begin at conception or sometime later in the pregnancy? Does the developing fetus have legal rights as a person?

The question is presented by many as a religious question, and it is, but a rational and scientific case can be made for opposition to abortion without any reference to religion.  Many people will not listen to a religious argument, but they might listen to a scientific one.

The posts in this series will present, in a highly simplified way, the scientific information necessary for a case against abortion and some forms of birth control.  Also, the very strong emotions of persons on both sides of the issue will be discussed.

1.     This is not, never has been, and never will be, a political blog.

2.     I am qualified to present this particular scientific information because my undergraduate degree is in biology with a concentration in developmental genetics and embryology.

Ethical Complicity

It should be emphatically pointed out to those who use illegal mind-altering substances that they are ethically complicit in all the crimes committed to get these drugs into their possession: smuggling, beatings, theft, extortion, bribery, and murder. And those who binge drink need to be constantly reminded of the horrible results of binge drinking: cirrhosis, fetal injury or death, domestic violence, broken family relationships, body-mangling automobile accidents and other emotional, financial, physical, and spiritual carnage.

ChristianShirts.net

http://www.christianshirts.net/  is a site devoted to one thing: selling tee shirts with Christian messages. The site is intensely pro-life and religiously conservative.  Many of the tee shirts are humorous and/or thought provoking; many are based on witty puns which probably would have meaning only in English.  Some may be offended by the cartoon character, Umbert the Unborn, a talking fetus inside a womb.  (I am not.) The site's overt political conservatism may bother some viewers as it seems to equate Christianity with one particular political viewpoint.

For full disclosure: I am unapologetically pro-life, evangelical, proudly trinitarian, and politically centrist.  I do not believe that any political organization speaks for God.  We are Americans, Russians, Mexicans, Latvians, Senegalese, Israelis, Jordanians. ... We should be proud of our nationalities and be responsible citizens, participating, where appropriate, in our nation's political discussions, but, our first allegiance must be to the Kingdom of God.

Embryo Adoption

Many pro-life advocates are opposed to in-vitro (outside the body) fertilization and to embryo storage because "excess" embryos are often discarded or donated for stem cell research. For those of us who believe ** that human life begins at conception, this is nothing short of murder and it presents a special problem for those who, because of other medical conditions, can not get pregnant any other way.

There are currently about 500,000 embryos held in a frozen state. The majority will never be used for implantation. This leaves four possibilities for their future: 1. destroy them; 2. donate them for stem cell research, which results in number 1; 3. donate them to another family, or 4. keep them frozen, which will eventually lead back to number 1. The longest period of freezing known to have resulted in viable implantation is about ten years.

Christian couples who resort to this technique to become pregnant will have "excess" embryos over which they will have legal control. One option is making the frozen embryos available to other infertile couples; ie. embryo adoption, or FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer). This is an "adoption" because the baby is not the biological child of the second couple, but the second couple gets to experience a real pregnancy and a real birth. A failed implantation is not destroying the embryo, but is a failed attempt at pregnancy akin to a miscarriage.

Concerns are the cost (about $6000.00 per attempt), and the strong possibility of a multiple pregnancy.

One company providing this service in an explicitly Christian format is Nightlight Christian Adoptions, see www.EmbryoAdoption.org.

** (This is not just a religious faith statement. There is a solid scientific basis for the declaration that human life begins at conception. See my post on 29 July 2009. You can access the post at the "abortion" keyword at the end of this page.)

The abortion debate is not only based on religious beliefs

     A friend and I were talking  and somehow got onto the subject of abortion.  When I expressed my opposition to the practice he told me he was surprised at me.    He said, "You're so well read and seem to be intelligent.  How can you be anti-choice?"

     I pointed out to him that I am not anti-choice, I'm pro-life.  He started rolling out all the pro-abortion arguments.  And, he made the charge that only fundamentalist Christians and Roman Catholics oppose abortion; so, declaring that it was not necessary to invoke religion at all in the debate, I asked him a question.

     "If you take tissue from an aborted fetus and from the biological mother and submit the samples separately for DNA analysis and comparison, what will be the result?  ... The DNA analysis will demonstrate that the tissues came from two separate and totally distinct individuals.  Genetic science states that the fetus, from the moment of conception, is a separate life, not merely a patch of tissue in the mother's body."

     My friend admitted that this was true but the implications of that admission flew right over his head.  He resorted to the hypothetical game, "If your unmarried young daughter were ... "

     Many people of both liberal and conservative orientations stake a claim on a particular issue on ideology and become almost automatons, chanting the established mantra over and over.  They challenge any deviation from their particular orthodoxy.  Real argument, in the classical sense, is drowned out; they merely become louder with their chanting.  If you don't agree with them you must be an uneducated boob, hopelessly confused, or, worst of all, a bigot.

     It would be a positive step if we could all learn to argue with respect.  At the end of our argument my friend and I looked at one another and laughed, both of us sure that the other was wrong.  We're still friends.