It is not the 12th day after conception. It is when the heart and brain begin functioning, which is a few weeks after that.
Another interesting question: If life begins AT conception (in terms of the soul and spirit being created as well) what happens when a couple of days later, the egg splits and identical twins form? Twins can be created in the lab by the way during this time.
During this time the body is being prepared, but is not yet formed. This is certainly a time period when a host for the soul and spirit is in formation but not yet ready.
This is when the body starts forming. People would be genuinly shocked to know how many fertilized eggs in a human never result in a baby being born.
"We assume that blood first appears at the time that the human embryo's heart begins to beat. (We are confident that we will receive a flood of Emails correcting us if this is not true.) This occurs at about 18 to 21 days after conception -- before the embryo develops limbs, a head, a brain, etc. It is about 1/12" long, the size of a pencil point. It most closely resembles a worm - long and thin and with a segmented end. More details.
Allowing for a four-day safety factor, the cutoff date for ethical stem cell research using the blood criterion might be ethically set at 14 days. This happens to be when the embryo develops a "primitive streak." The streak eventually develops in to the embryo's brain and central nervous system. Some suggest "...that an embryo should not be regarded as a unique individual before this point," 1 because it can spontaneously split into two embryos with identical DNA, and lead to the birth of identical twins. Fourteen days is also longest interval that an embryo can be maintained in culture. Regulations in many countries cite 14 days as the limit for scientific research.
The author suggests in the following essay that "...a bloodless embryo could be made available for research without incurring the wrath of God because of the shedding of innocent blood, since no blood is shed....the use of a bloodless embryo in research to give hope and perhaps eventually cures to debilitating illnesses should be encouraged and supported..."
"We assume that blood first appears at the time that the human embryo's heart begins to beat. (We are confident that we will receive a flood of Emails correcting us if this is not true.) This occurs at about 18 to 21 days after conception -- before the embryo develops limbs, a head, a brain, etc. It is about 1/12" long, the size of a pencil point. It most closely resembles a worm - long and thin and with a segmented end. More details.
Allowing for a four-day safety factor, the cutoff date for ethical stem cell research using the blood criterion might be ethically set at 14 days. This happens to be when the embryo develops a "primitive streak." The streak eventually develops in to the embryo's brain and central nervous system. Some suggest "...that an embryo should not be regarded as a unique individual before this point," 1 because it can spontaneously split into two embryos with identical DNA, and lead to the birth of identical twins. Fourteen days is also longest interval that an embryo can be maintained in culture. Regulations in many countries cite 14 days as the limit for scientific research.
The author suggests in the following essay that "...a bloodless embryo could be made available for research without incurring the wrath of God because of the shedding of innocent blood, since no blood is shed....the use of a bloodless embryo in research to give hope and perhaps eventually cures to debilitating illnesses should be encouraged and supported..."
Do You agree?
Nina
For me, I think the argument that the life is in the blood is a very interesting one with some scriptural support. However, my belief is that in God's design "life" begins at conception and am against the destruction of life.
The scientific "thing" you describe above, even though it has not blood, is alive because it is growing.
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (KJV)
I realize that I am taking the above scripture out of context, but my point is there is a "life" that is absent of flesh and blood. I believe that the life of the creator is manifested at conception. This is why no scientist has ever been able to take matter and manifest life. They can only take living things and manipulate them into other forms of living things.
To me this is one of the most powerful arguments against the theory of evolution. With all the great minds, tools, and scientific breakthroughs no one has ever originated life except God.
If a group of scientist were ever able to do this, it would only further prove "Intelligent Design" -- God is awesome and His name should be exalted!
"We assume that blood first appears at the time that the human embryo's heart begins to beat. (We are confident that we will receive a flood of Emails correcting us if this is not true.) This occurs at about 18 to 21 days after conception -- before the embryo develops limbs, a head, a brain, etc. It is about 1/12" long, the size of a pencil point. It most closely resembles a worm - long and thin and with a segmented end. More details.
Allowing for a four-day safety factor, the cutoff date for ethical stem cell research using the blood criterion might be ethically set at 14 days. This happens to be when the embryo develops a "primitive streak." The streak eventually develops in to the embryo's brain and central nervous system. Some suggest "...that an embryo should not be regarded as a unique individual before this point," 1 because it can spontaneously split into two embryos with identical DNA, and lead to the birth of identical twins. Fourteen days is also longest interval that an embryo can be maintained in culture. Regulations in many countries cite 14 days as the limit for scientific research.
The author suggests in the following essay that "...a bloodless embryo could be made available for research without incurring the wrath of God because of the shedding of innocent blood, since no blood is shed....the use of a bloodless embryo in research to give hope and perhaps eventually cures to debilitating illnesses should be encouraged and supported..."
Do You agree?
Nina
I think this is sound reasoning but I still disagree with the "encouraged and supported" portion. Embryonic stem cells are simply inferior to adult and don't even NEED to be studied other then for the simple sake of knowledge. If you look at where PRIVATE funding is going -it's not going to embryonic, but rather adult. Follow the money trail.... It is not about politics but about real results, or tries to be.
I think this is sound reasoning but I still disagree with the "encouraged and supported" portion. Embryonic stem cells are simply inferior to adult and don't even NEED to be studied other then for the simple sake of knowledge. If you look at where PRIVATE funding is going -it's not going to embryonic, but rather adult. Follow the money trail.... It is not about politics but about real results, or tries to be.
Brother,
I say again that there are those who disagree with You concerning adult vs embryonic studies. If there is no life, then would You deny them the possibilities of research?
For me, I think the argument that the life is in the blood is a very interesting one with some scriptural support. However, my belief is that in God's design "life" begins at conception and am against the destruction of life.
The scientific "thing" you describe above, even though it has not blood, is alive because it is growing.
Sister,
This is from the Association of Pro Life Physicians:
A scientific textbook called “Basics of Biology” gives five characteristics of living things; these five criteria are found in all modern elementary scientific textbooks:
1. Living things are highly organized.
2. All living things have an ability to acquire materials and energy.
3. All living things have an ability to respond to their environment.
4. All living things have an ability to reproduce.
5. All living things have an ability to adapt.
According to this elementary definition of life, life begins at fertilization, when a sperm unites with an oocyte. From this moment, the being is highly organized, has the ability to acquire materials and energy, has the ability to respond to his or her environment, has the ability to adapt, and has the ability to reproduce (the cells divide, then divide again, etc., and barring pathology and pending reproductive maturity has the potential to reproduce other members of the species). Non-living things do not do these things.
I say, "What God has joined together let no man put asunder!"
This is from the Association of Pro Life Physicians:
A scientific textbook called “Basics of Biology” gives five characteristics of living things; these five criteria are found in all modern elementary scientific textbooks:
1. Living things are highly organized.
2. All living things have an ability to acquire materials and energy.
3. All living things have an ability to respond to their environment.
4. All living things have an ability to reproduce.
5. All living things have an ability to adapt.
According to this elementary definition of life, life begins at fertilization, when a sperm unites with an oocyte. From this moment, the being is highly organized, has the ability to acquire materials and energy, has the ability to respond to his or her environment, has the ability to adapt, and has the ability to reproduce (the cells divide, then divide again, etc., and barring pathology and pending reproductive maturity has the potential to reproduce other members of the species). Non-living things do not do these things.
I say, "What God has joined together let no man put asunder!"
A scientific textbook called “Basics of Biology” gives five characteristics of living things; these five criteria are found in all modern elementary scientific textbooks:
1. Living things are highly organized.
2. All living things have an ability to acquire materials and energy.
3. All living things have an ability to respond to their environment.
4. All living things have an ability to reproduce.
5. All living things have an ability to adapt.
On an episode of Star Trek The Next Generation, Data was asking about what constitutes life -since he was an android and always wanting to be more "human". Beverly Crusher gave a list nearly identical to this to which Data answered "Doesn't 'fire' also fit into this definition?".
I say again that there are those who disagree with You concerning adult vs embryonic studies. If there is no life, then would You deny them the possibilities of research?
Linear Mode
