The embryonic human b

We will attempt to remove certain obfuscations related to this issue by presenting real scientific evidence concerning conception and human beings in order to do away with pseudoscience. This clarification is both important and crucial, because an unnecessary grey area has been conveniently created. The scientific evidence available confirms that any negative action taken vis-à-vis the fertilized ovum from the moment of conception is an action directed against a human individual. This logically goes against the Hippocratic Oath in the medical field and many fundamental values of humanity.

It is hoped that the scientific evidence presented here will encourage the defence of the unborn from the instant of conception to the moment of birth, in all aspects of legislation and policies. This would include the provision for clear definitions referring to the unborn child and the avoidance of vague terminology to avoid subjective interpretation that may lead to abuse. The scientific literature that will be presented supports the definition of an embryo in the Embryo Protection Act (Cap. 524 of the Laws of Malta), which is quite accurate and cannot be considered outdated. This definition states: “embryo” means the human organism that results from the fertilisation of a human egg cell by a human sperm cell which is capable of developing and shall further include each totipotent cell removed from a human embryo or otherwise produced, that is assumed to be able to divide and to develop as a human being under the appropriate conditions”.

A quick glance at some pivotal statements by heavyweight authors and researchers in this field is in order. The following are taken from very recent editions of medical text books on human embryology and reproduction and peer-reviewed scientific literature: “Human development begins at fertilization, when a sperm fuses with an oocyte to form a single cell, the zygote (one cell embryo). This highly specialized, totipotentcell (capable of giving rise to any cell type) marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.” (The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, Saunders 2016).

“[The zygote], formed by the union of an oocyte and a sperm, is the beginning of a new human being.” (Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology. Saunders, 2008).

“Although life is a continuous process, fertilization... is a critical landmark because, under ordinary circumstances, a new genetically distinct human organism is formed when the chromosomes of the male and female pronuclei blend in the oocyte.” (Human Embryology and Teratology. Wiley-Liss, 2001).

“Human pregnancy begins with the fusion of an egg and a sperm within the female reproductive tract.” (Human Embryology and Developmental Biology. Elsevier, Saunders, 2014).

“Representing the 60 trillion cells that build a human body, a sperm and an egg meet, recognize each other, and fuse to form a new generation of life.” (The immunoglobulin superfamily protein Izumo is required for a sperm to fuse with eggs. Inoue N. et al. Nature, 2005).

“The seminal question in modern developmental biology is the origins of new life arising from the unification of sperm and egg.” (Gene expression during the oocyte-to-embryo transition in mammals. Evsikov AV, Marín de Evsikova C. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 2009).

“Fertilization–the fusion of gametes (sperm cell and oocyte / egg) to produce a new organism – is the culmination of a multitude of intricately regulated cellular processes.” (Fertilization. Marcello MR et al. Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology, 2013).

“The oocyte-to-embryo transition refers to the process whereby a fully grown, relatively quiescent oocyte undergoes maturation, fertilization, and is converted into a developmentally active, mitotically (a method of cell division, in which the nucleus divides into daughter nulei, each containing the same number of chromosomes as the parent nucleus) dividing embryo, arguably one of the most dramatic transitions in biology.” (The oocyte-to-embryo transition. Robertson S., Lin R. Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology, 2013).

“Fertilization occurs when sperm and egg recognize each other and fuse to form a new, genetically distinct organism.” (Juno is the egg Izumo receptor and is essential for mammalian fertilization. Bianchi E. et al. Nature, 2014).

“Mammalian life begins with a cellcell fusion event, i.e. the fusion of the spermatozoid (sperm cell) with the oocyte” (State of the art in cell-cell fusion. Willkomm L., Bloch W. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2015).

“New parents anticipate their job begins at birth. Little do they know they have been exerting control within the baby’s first cell since fertilization.” (Parental Control Begins at the Beginning. Chu D. Genetics, 2016).

From the above it transpires that the immediate result of a spermegg fusion is a unicellular totipotent embryo. The fact that this embryo (the zygote) is a new cell type that is qualitatively different from its precursors (the gametes) and that, being a new organism, behaves in a very distinct way is an objective, verifiable piece of data that is scientifically evident. Without the influence of any external factors, the zygote sets a process in motion whereby, within minutes, other sperm are not allowed to attach themselves to its surface. This new organism, having characteristics that are different from mere cells, hence immediately embarks on a process of self-directed maturation. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines an organism as:

“(1) a complex structure of interdependent and subordinate elements whose relations and properties are largely determined by their function in the whole and (2) an individual constituted to carry on the activities of life by means of organs separate in function but mutually dependent: a living being.”

Rather than being a mere collection of cells or human parts, human beings (which are by nature organisms) have a characteristic molecular composition and a specific way of behaving, aptly carrying out the activities of life in a coordinated fashion. Unlike other human cells which may assemble to form certain tissues or structures, the one-cell stage embryo that is the zygote, has the inner capacity to develop into a fully unified human body. This capacity, known as totipotency, is unique to the zygote.

Some may react by saying that even stem cells and tumours exhibit these characteristics, but this is far from the truth because, unlike embryos, these are not organisms, and neither do they exhibit the kind of interactions seen within an embryo which ensure its survival and development. It is an empirically proven fact that the embryo fashions itself and independently directs its development. It is incorrect to apply the term “totipotent” to any cell apart from the zygote, presuming that such cells can undergo an embryonic process leading to the formation of all the body components independently. Indeed, totipotency, or the ability to initiate an integrated developmental sequence, distinguishes a single-cell embryo from all other cell types. Consequently, embryos of all species are clearly organisms from the time of spermegg fusion onward, independent of the specific developmental mechanisms they employ.

In a study which observes embryos at a later stage (“Self-Organization of the Human Embryo in the Absence of Maternal Tissues”, 2016), the author states:

“Together, our results indicate that the critical re-modelling events at this stage of human development are embryo autonomous, highlighting the remarkable and unanticipated self-organizing properties of human embryos.”

Now we have scientific proof that the immediate result of a human egg-sperm fusion is a unique and autonomous human being with full developmental characteristics, meaning that human life is a continuum which begins at a specific point. Consequently, any practice or event which harms or terminates life at any point throughout the entire continuum, harms or terminates a human being.

A glance at embryo freezing (cryopreservation)

Embryo cryopreservation (embryo freezing) is a practice which may very easily subject human embryos to inappropriate and dangerous conditions. We will refer to studies originating from countries where there are decades of experience in this field. The following is an excerpt from the conclusions of a study published in the periodical Fertility and Sterility of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (“The Social Implications of Embryo Cryopreservation”):

“Embryo cryopreservation has been increasingly used to improve the costeffectiveness of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and expand the options available to infertile couples, yet its widespread adoption has occurred more rapidly than our ability to study the social consequences for the couples and health professionals involved. For maintaining cryopreserved embryos, the existing literature is fragmented and incompletely explores the effects on an infertile couple’s psychosocial health and personal relationships, their family planning strategies, or their preferences for the disposition of the