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THE CODE FOR HUMAN LIFE
[Reprinted
from the Catholic Answer 9: 40-45,1996]
A fertilized human egg at the moment of Conception, is the opinion of the
creator that a human life at that instant, must begin....
F. Zugibe
The question as to
when human life and personhood begins has been made a controversial issue
because the proponents of abortion do not want it to begin at least before the
first 24 weeks of gestation. There, however, should be no controversy because
the scientific facts are incontrovertible. These facts have been obscured on
both sides by individuals who do not possess the necessary education, training
and experience in science to evaluate and interpret the materials and render
valid conclusions or who, influenced by their religious or chauvinistic fervor
have reached erroneous or untenable suppositions and conclusions,
argumentum ad
hominem.
Justice Blackmun
opined in
Roe P. Wade
that the
determination as to when life and personhood begins is a difficult decision that
the court is not in a position to speculate on and there in does not have the
resolve since those trained in medicine are unable to arrive at any consensus.
The U. S. Supreme Court Justices then carried their defective reasoning even
further in
Roe v. Wade
when in
contrast with all other civilized societies, ruled that the unborn is a
non-person regardless as to whether it is a human being or not. This decision
then made the unborn ineligible for the protection that is guaranteed to all
human persons under the U. S. Constitution. What Blackmun and the other U. S.
Justices were really saying was that maybe human life and personhood begins at
conception but since we do not know for sure, we will allow abortion until
someone proves differently. This is the mentality of most of the ardent
supporters of
abortion which is
in sharp contrast to logical reasoning when applied to possible life or death
situations. In the field of medicine, the proper medical diagnostic approach
must proceed in a rational manner with the safety of the patient always
foremost,
primum non
nocere, first
do no harm. An example of
this is the patient
with chest pain. Here, it behooves the physician to consider chest pain as
heart related until proven otherwise even though chest pain is only heart
related in less than 20 % of
the cases since an
error in diagnosis may cause the patient his life. I have personally
investigated many unfortunate cases in my role as medical examiner, where this
approach was neglected by physicians and the patients subsequently died. In
Roe vs. Wade, millions of human
beings were legally murdered by the stroke of a pen. Ergo,
the Roe
versus
Wade
Decision
should have utilized the premise, ...a human person until proven
otherwise...thereby preventing. the slaughter of millions
of
innocent human
beings. In the words of Louis
Brandeis,
"if we desire
respect for the law,
we must
first make the law respectable"
In recent years
there has been a revolution in genetics that confirmed what geneticists and
embryologists have been saying for years, that human life with all
of
its characteristics
for a particular human being must be coded in the fertilized egg. In 1948, Dr.
Bradley Patten, one of
the most
distinguished embryologists in the world definitively related in his textbook (
I ). "It Is the penetration of the ovum by the spermatzoon and the resulting
mingling of
the nuclear
material each brings to the union that constitutes the culmination of the
process of fertilization and marks the initiation of the life of a
new individual. In the midst of the current Genetic Revolution, one
of
the foremost,
highly honored geneticist in the world, Jerome Lejeune, M. D., Ph.D., Professor
of Genetics at the University of Paris and Sorbonne, related, "...each
of us
has a unique
beginning,
the moment of
conception...when the information carried by the sperm and by the ovum
have
encountered each
other, then a new human being is defined because its own personal and human
constitution
is
entirely spelled
out. The information which is inside the first cell obviously tells
this
cell all the tricks
of the trade to build himself
as
the individual
this
cell is
already....to build that particular individual
which
we will call later
Margaret or Paul or Peter, it's already there, but it's so small we cannot see
it ...It’s
what
life
is,
the formula
is there;
....if
you allow the formula to be expanded by itself, just giving shelter and
nurture,
then you have
the development of the full person "( 2).
In
order to understand
why
we now know and
not just infer that human life begins at the time of conception, it
is important that we understand some of the fundamental concepts in genetics.
Both the human spermatozoa and the human egg each contain 23 chromosomes. When
the spermatozoa penetrates the ovum, the 23 chromosomes from each, arrange
themselves in 23 pairs or 46 chromosomes (Fig. One).
 a.
 b.
Fig. One
a. Chromosomes
b. Chromosomes dividing
One chromosome from
each pair is from each parent. It is at this moment that both fertilization and
human life begins and the cell divides into 2 cells, then 4 cells, 8 cells, 16
cells and so forth until the complete human body is formed.
The fertilized egg is called the zygote. Each chromosome is packed with a long
string of deoxyribosenucleic acid commonly known as DNA. Each of these strings
of DNA is composed of two tightly, intertwined, strands which comprise the
spiral staircase structure discovered by Nobelists, Crick and Watson in 1953.
 a.
 b.
 c.
Fig. Two. DNA SPIRAL Schematic (A-Adenine, G-Guanine, T-Thymidine,
C-Cytosine)
[
b.closeup c. helix dividing]
It has been
estimated that If the DNA strands from one spermatozoa or ovum is stretched out
and placed end to end, it would measure over 3 feet in length. These strands
bear the code for human life and contain all the information necessary to
construct a human being along with specific qualities unique to a specific
person all lined up in precise locations along the DNA. This code is in the form
of four chemical bases,
cytosine, adenine,
thymidine and guanine
that are arranged
in various sequences along with side chains
of
sugars, and
phosphates which comprises each DNA strand. The
genes,
totaling over
30,000 in number are the fundamental units of heredity being made up of
different chemical base sequences that are arranged along the DNA strands at
precise locations- The amount
of
information contained on the DNA is likened to a vast biological computer
program probably larger than our largest computers, yet as Dr. Lejeune pointed
out, if you
took all of the
strands of DNA from the spermatozoa and ova that would replace every individual
in the entire world, they would only add up to the size of about two aspirin
tablets( 2 ). As I previously indicated, most
of
the genetic work in
the past regarding the genetic code had been hypothetical and by inference. But
in the early 1980's, the Genetic Revolution began when Botstein et al. showed
that all of the genes on a DNA molecule is replete with segments of genetic
information ( 3 ). Subsequently, Dr Alec Jeffreys developed a method to isolate
common core sequences on the DNA for identification purposes ( 4, 5 ). The term
"DNA fingerprinting" was born and now for the first time, geneticists could
demonstrate that the DNA in every cell of every person contains a code unique to
that individual, like the bar codes in the supermarket.
Supermarket Barcode
DNA Pattern
This
bar code
for every person is
present in the original zygote. After Jeffrey’s technique first emerged, in
England, police and immigration authorities began using it for identification
purposes, The first criminal application was used in the Colin-Pitchfork case
noted in The Blooding by Wambaugh ( 6 ). Jeffrey’s technique known as the
restricted fragment length polymorphism method (RFLP) requires a relatively
large sample size and about five weeks to perform. A few years later, another
revolutionary advance, (although not as accurate as RFLP) was made that can be
performed on tiny samples and in only a couple of days by amplifying specific
regions of DNA, and precisely making millions of copies through a chemical
reaction known as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR ) method ( 7 ). Every
year
the
accuracy of this method has been improving. Both the RFLP and the PCR methods
are currently in widespread use by law enforcement officials and by attorneys in
civil paternity cases throughout the world. In my work as medical examiner, I
frequently use DNA testing for identification purposes. For example, in a recent
beating death, we found a subtle impression of the letters NIKE) on the victim's
body whereupon careful observation revealed a sneaker impression The authorities
then brought in a sneaker from a suspect which accurately matched the impression
and although no visible blood was present on the sneaker, the DNA lab was able
to produce millions of copies of DNA from a few blood cells that were present
and match them up with a blood sample taken from the deceased victim. The
suspect was subsequently convicted of murder.
 a.
 b.
Fig. 3. "Nike"Imprint on body (reverse) Implicated Sneaker
It is now an established fact that the DNA in the fertilized ovum bears the code
for both human life and individuality which is passed on to every cell in the
development
of
the embryo. Every
cell, whether it be blood, brain, skin, liver, heart or any organ at any stage
of
existence can
be typed to identify that particular human being. The important thing to
remember is that
the fertilized egg
or zygote contains all of the genetic material needed to create the fully
expressed individual and includes inherent complex encoding for individual human
interjection and all the other associated
qualities
characteristic of
human personhood.
Fig. 4. 32 day old embryo
We can take a
single cell or zygote from a human being, a gorilla and a mouse and subject them
to forensic testing and definitively identify each species. Moreover, if one or
two cells were removed from a developing human embryo and either typed as to
their individual specific DNA pattern or stored
away,
they could be used
many years later to identify the adult individual. Currently, more and more
refinements are being made in the DNA techniques with more and more precision
and accuracy. Moreover, The Human Genome Project headed by Dr. Francis Collins
at the National Institutes
of
Health has been
successful in constructing a complete map of the DNA molecules with all of
its over thirty thousand genes, their locations, their exact sequences and gene
abnormalities that was originally scheduled to be completed by the year 2005-
Harvard molecular biologist, Dr William Gilbert wrote
"We look
at
ourselves as having
an infinite
potential to
recognize that we are determined, in a certain sense by a finite collection
of
information that is
knowable will change our view of ourselves.
/t is the
closing of
an
intellectual
frontier with which we will have to come to terms “(8).
Some of the new
information in genetics is fascinating. Recent information shows that the first
cell has a greater capability or endowment for using information than all
of the cells following it. When the human code is activated during
fertilization, the first cell (actually 2 cells combined) carries out the design
for the entire creation and is actually the most specialized cell in the
complete developmental process.
 a.
 b.
Fig. 5. Fertilized Egg
Two cell stage
All future developmental events are encoded in the original fertilized cell As
more and more cell divisions occur, the cells are able to use less and less of
the genetic information although the full gamut of information is present in
every cell. This
specialization
or
differentiation
first begins at the
3 cell stage and continues
thereafter. by a unique reaction
called
methylation
where a chemical
group called a methyl group is attached to certain genetic base sequences which
shuts off specific genetic information in a manner likened to that of a series
of switches. For example, by shutting off certain switches, some cells are
designed to become liver cells and can only produce liver cells. The same is
true of kidney cells, heart cells, brain cells etc.
Another important area that must be
addressed is the assertion by freedom of choice
advocates that the
conceptus is part of the mother's body and therefore she has a right to do what
she wants regarding her own body.
This is
completely incorrect. The conceptus is a separate and distinct human being and
contains its own 46 individualized chromosomes different from that of the mother
throughout all stages of development. They each have a separate circulation,
separate organs as brain, heart, kidneys, liver, the same or different blood
types, and are of the same or different sex. The conceptus is as much a part of
the father as it is of the mother. Recent studies show that the membranes that
enclose the conceptus is derived from information encoded in the spermatozoa
which provides for separation of the conceptus from the mother otherwise the
mother's immune system would destroy the conceptus. They also allow oxygen and
nutriments to pass from the mothers blood to the blood of the conceptus. If the
spermatozoa is defective, a mass of unorganized tissue called a dermoid cyst
containing hair, teeth, and etc. results (Fig. 6. a & b). However, if the egg is
defective, just a mass of tissue resembling bunches of grapes occurs (each
resembling a miniature placenta) (see Fig. 6b.)
The mother
only
provides
shelter,
nutrition
and
oxygen
and does not direct the development of the conceptus.
The latter is
completely directed by the genetic code of the conceptus.
 a. b. c. d.
Fig. 6. Dermoid Cyst (a and b)
Hydadiform Mole (c and d)
(note hair
and teeth)
(note miniature placentas)
A monumental
contribution was made by Dr. Foidart, a Belgian Scientist who recently provided
evidence that during the first three months of development, an embryonic
hemoglobin different than the fetal hemoglobin is present which extracts oxygen
from a special fluid that is present in the intervillous space and not from the
mothers blood ( 9 ).
Proponents of abortion argue that
merely proving that the conceptus is a human being does not make it a human
person. My response to them would be likened to that of Hamlet in response to
Polonius' question, "What do
you read my Lord?" "Words, words, words."
The simple fact is that the two terms
are inseparable. A human being is a human person, It
has a basic Inherent capacity to function rationally but lacks the present
immediate capacity to function rationally ( 10 ). Still, the courts constantly
utilize the premise that an unborn child regardless of whether he or she is a
human being is not a person and therefore has no rights under the Constitution.
The laws in New York State and most other states, all embrace the principle that
you are a non-person unless you are born. I call this the idiot
principle because it even includes full term infants right up to the
moment of birth. Our office and other medical examiner's offices have
investigated cases where full term babies were killed
in utero
by various types of trauma and yet no
homicide charges were made because
the baby was not born.
Two cases in point include a case
where a lady intentionally kicked a full term pregnant lady in the abdomen to
kill her baby and a case where a man fired a bullet into the abdomen of a full
term woman, killing the infant. In both cases only assault charges were made
against the perpetrators. Many pro-abortionists utilize the definitions from
Descartes and other philosophers who define a person as
someone who
acts
rationally, is self
conscious,
is self-aware, and sentient.
Some pro-abortionists like
Peter Singer, the founder of the animal rights movement go so far as to argue
that non-human animals like chimpanzees, dogs or pigs are more rational, self
conscious, more aware and sentient than a human baby a week, a month or even a
year old and therefore it appears that the latter are of less value than the
life of these animals thus alluding that newborn babies should be used for
experimentation before these animals. ( 11 ). If the personhood principle
depends on rationality, awareness, self consciousness, then we are in deep
trouble because this would exclude full term fetuses, newborn infants, infants
perhaps up to two years old, the markedly retarded, patients with organic mental
syndrome. Alzheimer patients and patient's with cerebral trauma who are in coma.
Since the personhood principle pervades the court system, one can readily see
how euthanasia can gain easy entrance. In
1907, Oliver Wendell Holmes put
things in
proper perspective when he said
"The great act of
faith is when a man decides
he is
not God"
and to borrow a phrase from William Shakespeare. "Woe to the hand that shed
this costly blood"....the
hand(s) that signed the Roe vs Wade Death Warrant.
References
1. Patten, Bradley, Human Embryology, (
Blakiston Co.,Philadelphia1947, p. 76),
2. Lejeune, Jerome
The Concentration Can , Ignatius Press, San
Francisco, 1992)
3. Botstein, D., White, R.L. ,
Skolnick, M., and Davis, R.W., Construction of a Genetic Linkage map in Man
Using Restriction Fragment Polymorphisms. American Journal of Human Genetics
32 14-331, 1980)
4.
Jeffreys. A. Wilson. V. and Thein, S. L., Hypervariable "minisatellite" regions
in Human DNA. Nature, 314: 67-73, 1985
5.
Jeffreys, A., Wilson, V. and Thein, S.L., Individual-specific "fingerprints' of
Human DNA, Nature, 316: 76-79,1985
6.
Waumbaugh, J. The Blooding. Perichord, New York, 1989.
7. Saiki
et. al. ( Science 239:487-491, 1988).
8. Elmer-Dewitt, Philip, "The
Genetic Revolution" Time Magazine, Jan 17, 1994, p.53
9.
Lejeune, J. Beginning and Development
of Human Life in Life and Learning Proceedings of the Second University
Faculty for Life Conference
ed. by J. Koterski, pp 16-24, 1993.
10. Schwarz, S. The Moral Question
of Abortion, Loyola Univ. Press Chicago, 1990.
11. Singer, P. "Taking Life- Abortion" in Practical Ethics,
London-Cambridge, UP 1981, p.118
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