PSYC 210
Prenatal Development Reflection
Liberty University
PSYC 210: Developmental Psychology
Introduction
The debate over when human life begins has been going on for many years in both
the public and scientific communities; however, Irving (1999) suggests that many people
use scientific myths instead of scientific fact to defend their opinion. This debate is the
cause of much discourse in political, religious, and scientific communities. When
examining the topic from a scientific perspective, there are two main views. The first
being: human life begins at conception. The second stance is: human life begins later in the
developmental process. While there may not be a definite answer, understanding both
viewpoints is important to prenatal development and the ethics of embryonic research.
This understanding informs one on what is and is not a human being scientifically.
Human Life Begins at Conception
One of the arguments that people who believe that human life begins at conception
say is that the process of a mature sperm (male gamete) fertilizing a mature oocyte (female
gamete) and creating a human zygote is the start of human life (Irving, 1999). This single
cell contains the ability to produce the necessary proteins and enzymes for human life from
each of its gamete components. Each gamete contains twenty-three chromosomes and the
combination of them results in the forty-six chromosomes that characterize a human being.
The zygote then continues its development. Due to the zygote containing all DNA and
components necessary for development it is reasonable to argue this is the beginning of life.
Human Life Begins Later in Development
Those who believe that human life begins later in development say that after
fertilization, the zygote is in a pre-embryo stage and is not yet a human. They cite that the
Prenatal Development Reflection
Liberty University
PSYC 210: Developmental Psychology
Introduction
The debate over when human life begins has been going on for many years in both
the public and scientific communities; however, Irving (1999) suggests that many people
use scientific myths instead of scientific fact to defend their opinion. This debate is the
cause of much discourse in political, religious, and scientific communities. When
examining the topic from a scientific perspective, there are two main views. The first
being: human life begins at conception. The second stance is: human life begins later in the
developmental process. While there may not be a definite answer, understanding both
viewpoints is important to prenatal development and the ethics of embryonic research.
This understanding informs one on what is and is not a human being scientifically.
Human Life Begins at Conception
One of the arguments that people who believe that human life begins at conception
say is that the process of a mature sperm (male gamete) fertilizing a mature oocyte (female
gamete) and creating a human zygote is the start of human life (Irving, 1999). This single
cell contains the ability to produce the necessary proteins and enzymes for human life from
each of its gamete components. Each gamete contains twenty-three chromosomes and the
combination of them results in the forty-six chromosomes that characterize a human being.
The zygote then continues its development. Due to the zygote containing all DNA and
components necessary for development it is reasonable to argue this is the beginning of life.
Human Life Begins Later in Development
Those who believe that human life begins later in development say that after
fertilization, the zygote is in a pre-embryo stage and is not yet a human. They cite that the
