title: Embryonic life and human life.
abstract: A new human life comes into being not when there is mere cellular life in a human embryo, but when the newly developing body organs and systems begin to function as a whole, the author argues. This is symmetrical with the dealth of an existing human life, which occurs when its organs and systems have permanently ceased to function as a whole. Thus a new human life cannot begin until the development of a functioning brain which has begun to co-ordinate and organise the activities of the body as a whole.
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005333:Fetus; D040821:Human Characteristics; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D019369:Life; D028723:Personhood; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011247:Pregnancy