Beginning of life (uses of embryos)

Question 1

Different views about when life begins

Answer 1

• when the heart starts beating
  -at birth
  -when the soul is given
• at conception

Question 2

IVF (in vitro fertilisation)

Answer 2

Fertilisation which happens out of the body and in a lab. Allows individuals who cannot naturally conceive to still have the opportunity to have children. Could be for same sex couples or infertile couples.

Question 3

Timeline of embryo development

Answer 3

-sperm and ovum fuse making a zygote
- cells start to drive and a blastocyst is implanted by day 5-6
- day 14-15 the primitive streak appears (will develop into spinal cord and brain)
-day 21 heart starts to beat
-4 weeks arms legs, eyes, ears and nose start to develop
- 45 days electrical brain wave patterns can be recorded
- 8 weeks now called a fetus by scientists, all organs functioning, growth and maturity are all that occur now
-9 weeks the fetus can make a fist will grasp on to objects
-week 13 hair appears on the head, fetus sleeps and wakes, practices breathing.
-week 16 fetus is about half birth length
-week 24 baby can survive by itself is born and giving special care
-week 28 eyes open, fetus can hear and respond to mothers voice
-week 38 full term (40 week) pregnancy.

Question 4

Screening and selecting

Answer 4

One or more cell is taken from the embryo and the DNA is tested for chromosomal abnormalities. This helps ensure more viable embryos are implanted.

Question 5

What happens after 14 days of development

Answer 5

Embryo is
-frozen
-implanted into uterus
-destroyed

Question 6

Moral issues of IVF

Answer 6

• is it morally acceptable to interfere with the natural reproduction process
• is it playing the role of God
• selecting and screening could cause parents to use IVF for ‘designer babies’

Question 7

Research uses

Answer 7

• pure research is research to further human understanding but there is no specific aim
• research with a specific aim has a particular question that is being addressed