Beginning of Life

Question 1

Pre-embryo

Answer 1

A term used in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (1990) to refer to the stage from fertilisation up to 14 days. Pre-embryos are obtained either through IVF (spare embryos) or produced deliberately for research purposes.

Question 2

Embryo

Answer 2

The stage from 15 days until 8 weeks. Research at this stage is prohibited according to the HFEA.

Question 3

Foetus

Answer 3

A stage from around 8 weeks from conception to birth. Judith Jarvis Thomson prefers the neutral term ‘conceptus’.

Question 4

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)

Answer 4

The government regulator responsible for making sure fertility clinics and embryonic research centres comply with the law.

Question 5

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Answer 5

A possible use of embryos. A fertility treatment that allows for the woman’s ova to be fertilised outside of the body and then implanted back into the uterus for development and birth.

Question 6

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

Answer 6

A possible use of embryos. Genetic testing on an embryo produced by in vitro fertilisation before implantation of the embryo in the uterus.

Question 7

Stem cell

Answer 7

‘Undifferentiated’ cells that can “specialise” into any cell type (skin, muscle, blood, bone, brain, etc.). They can be found in embryos, the umbilical cord, bone marrow and adult tissues. Embryonic stem cells have so far been most useful for research purposes.

Question 8

Therapeutic Cloning

Answer 8

A possible use of embryos. The production of embryos intended to harvest embryonic stem cells for use in replacing or repairing damaged tissues or organs, or exploratory research.

Question 9

The Warnock Report (1984)

Answer 9

A report authored by British philosopher Mary Warnock. It offers a utilitarian justification for embryo research: if experiments on the pre-embryo can further scientific knowledge to help overcome problems of infertility and other genetic problems, the goods outweigh any emotional or moral hesitations. It famously established the ‘14 day rule’ which permits research on human embryos to a maximum period of 14 days after their creation.

Question 10

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990

Answer 10

The Act permits research to be carried out on the human embryo up to the 14th day of gestation - that is, up to the point where the primitive streak appears. It also included an amendment to the Abortion Act (1967) that reduced the upper limit from 28 weeks to 24 weeks and permitted abortion of any handicapped child up until the moment of birth.

Question 11

Primitive streak

Answer 11

A transient structure whose formation, on day 15 of human development, signifies the creation of a unique human being (to some bioethicists).

Question 12

Abortion

Answer 12

The intentional termination of a pregnancy. Medical abortions, using the drug Mifepristone, can be performed up until 12 weeks of pregnancy. Surgical abortions, the surgical removal of foetal tissue, are used during later stages of pregnancy.

Question 13

‘Morally significant dividing line’

Answer 13

Singer’s term for the point at which a fetus can be said to have moral status.

Question 14

Twinning

Answer 14

The point at which the pre-embryonic material can no longer divide into separate embryos..

Question 15

Consciousness

Answer 15

The state of being aware and responsive to one’s surroundings.

Question 16

Sanctity of life principle: Kant

Answer 16

The notion that life is intrinsically valuable from a non-religious perspective, derived from the moral law: human beings have ‘intrinsic dignity’ in virtue of their capacity to reason. The Humanity formulation of the Categorical imperative states: “Act in such a way that you treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, always at the same time as an end and never simply as a means.”

Question 17

Sanctity of life principle: natural law

Answer 17

Weak sanctity of life - the principle is modified to allow for exceptions, i.e. if the life of the mother is at risk.

Question 18

Sanctity of life principle: revealed ethics

Answer 18

The basic proposition, that human life is created in the image of God and therefore is sacred, is derived from Biblical texts, i.e. Genesis 1:26-27, Job 1:21. It is associated with the ‘strong sanctity of life principle’ (which allows no exceptions), the ‘pro-life’ position and in philosophical terms correspond to vitalism.