Totipotency, twinning, and ensoulment at fertilization.
From fertilization to approximately the sixteenth day of development, human embryonic cells are said to have the capacities of totipotency and monozygotic twinning, both of which are problematic to a theory of ensoulment at fertilization. In this article I will address the problems which these capacities pose to such a theory and present an interpretation of the biological data which renders ensoulment at fertilization more plausible. I will then argue that not only is an ensoulment theory consistent with current biological data on the human embryo, but it may offer an explanation for the phenomencon of monozygotic twinning.
Koch-Hershenov
Rose
R
Department of Philosophy, Niagara University, Niagara University, New York 14109, USA. rjoanna@hotmail.com
D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D033041:Embryo Research; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D028723:Personhood; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D035845:Research Embryo Creation; D038522:Twinning, Monozygotic; D026712:Value of Life; D015053:Zygote