Embryo

This is the name given to the human being from conception to birth, during a development that normally lasts 9 months and follows several phases.

We describe them from birth, going back in time. - 9th month. Baby Peter is born to the great joy of his parents. For the first time the embryo's lungs breathe air. Peter cries out because of the sudden change he has undergone at birth. He weighs 3,300 gr. - 9th month minus one day. Embryo Peter is about to be born. He lives happily inside his mother, from whom he receives nourishment, protection and love. - 7th month. If Peter were born now, it would be a premature birth but without major problems. - 5th month. If the embryo were born now, he could also survive today in equipped hospitals. So there are few differences between the child today and a few months from now when he is born. He weighs 500 gr. and needs to grow more for a normal birth. - 2nd month (8th week). At this point Peter has already formed. He is just very small. From now on the embryo is also called a fetus. - 1st month (4th or 5th week). The heartbeats of Peter are detectable. - 3rd week (day 21). The embryo forms its initial blood circulation. - Day 18. The embryo forms its neural plate, which will later give rise to the various components of the nervous system. - Day 14. Peter forms the primitive streak and implants in the uterus. At this point the human embryo completes the outline of its future formation. It has prepared the cells that will develop communication with the mother (placenta and umbilical cord), and the cells that will form its body. At this moment a line of cells is distinguished in the position of the future spinal column. The cells are pluripotent, but no longer totipotent — that is, they can give rise to many different organs, but not all, since their missions have already been divided. - Day 6 or 7. Peter begins the process of nidation in the uterus. At this point the embryo is also called a morula and its cells blastomeres. Up to here the cells are totipotent, so that a single one of them can give rise to a complete organism. In the exceptional case that one separated from the others, the existence of a twin brother of Peter would begin. - Day 3-5. The embryo arrives at the uterus. - Day 1. Peter is a single-cell embryo also called a zygote, with 46 chromosomes, which immediately begins to multiply forming other equal cells: 1-2-4-8-16... - Day 0. A sperm penetrates the ovum. Peter does not yet exist; rather, two cells of his parents unite. Each of them has only 23 chromosomes. These two cells unite their nuclei and give rise to a single cell with the 46 chromosomes of the human being — different from those of his parents. Peter begins to exist.

There is abundant experimental evidence that after fertilization we are dealing with a new human being, when the initial cell with the 46 human chromosomes different from those of its parents is formed.

An embryo possesses rights similar to those of any other human being — those that belong to it by virtue of being human. For example, the right to life, to not be an object of experimentation like a guinea pig, to not have its development impeded (by freezing it), etc. The right to have its human dignity respected.

Accidental qualities do not affect its status as a human being, and as a human being it must not suffer discrimination. Human beings are not only healthy white adults. Other difficulties that may arise:

• The embryo does not think. — Neither does one who is asleep or has been anesthetized, and they remain human beings who must be respected.
• The embryo needs to develop further. — This is something we all need.
• The embryo depends on its mother. — Some accident victims and sick people also depend on medical care, but they remain human beings.

On this, see the topics dignity and respect. Let us offer a personal argument: because I want to protect my own life. And if I do not defend the dignity of any other human being, my life is at risk. This is no exaggeration. Currently embryos are killed (abortion) and the elderly (euthanasia). In the past, slaves and Jews were killed. Terrorism continues.

- In a conversation, some were in favor of experimenting on embryos. Another said: "Do it only with Jewish embryos." At the protests of all, he insisted: "If it is wrong to do it with Jewish embryos, it is wrong to do it with any embryo."