title: The beginning of life of a new human being from the scientific biological perspective and its bioethical implications.
abstract: The issue of when the human life begins is a very important subject since it has a significant impact on the decisions that we have to take in relation to human beings in development, particularly human embryos. In this article we discuss some of the more relevant biological evidence supporting the fact that beginning human life begins unquestionably at fertilization and the bioethical consequences.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Bioética y Departamento de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Patricio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ventura-Juncá
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D026688:Bioethical Issues; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D028723:Personhood; D011247:Pregnancy