EMAIL OF THE DAY

“I think there is a non-arbitrary point where a fertilized ovum can be said to become a human being, and it’s about ten days after fertilization, not at the time of fertilization. At about ten days into term an interesting thing happens: A ball of cells, some of which go on to become placenta, some to be fetus, undergoes “primitive streaking.” At this point it is determined which cells go on to which role — you can distinguish fetus from placenta — and, maybe even more importantly, twinning is no longer possible. As long as twinning remains possible, there is no human individual. Whatever exists before ten days can undergo fission, human beings cannot. So, if all of this is right, then one cannot object that working on what’s in the dish five days after fertilization is working on a human being, and bringing about its demise is not homicide. There may be other objections to doing this, but homicide it ain’t.”