When talking about abortion, the first question to ask is "What is a Human Life?" The pro-abortion view asserts that a zygote, embryo, and/or fetus is a clump of cells that becomes human at some point during its development: some say at the first heartbeat, when brain activity is detectable, the age of viability, or even birth.

 

However, science tells us that at the moment of fertilization, a genetically complete individual comes into being, possessing all of the DNA that it will have throughout its entire life. Before the first division of cells, all of the genetic information that will determine the new individual’s gender, natural hair color, eye color, and countless other traits is present.

 

With this in mind, we must ask the following question: what is different between this genetically complete individual that resides in the womb for approximately nine months and the genetically complete individual that lives outside a mother’s body following birth?

 

Size: Although an individual inside the womb is admittedly much smaller than an individual outside of the womb, using this observation to undermine the humanity of the unborn is irrational. Size does not dictate dignity or value. Men are typically larger than women, but this does not mean that they are worth more or deserve more rights.

 

Level of Development: Individuals in utero and outside the womb are often characterized by their level of development. For instance, a pre-born human is referred to as a zygote, embryo, or fetus, while a born individual is referred to as an infant, child, adolescent, or adult. Each of these descriptors refers to the individual’s level of human development. For example, an embryo really refers to an embryonic human, and an infant really refers to an infantile human. Both an embryonic human and an infantile human are less developed than the adult humans they will become. Nonetheless, an individual’s level of development cannot dictate humanity. Older individuals are not more human than younger individuals.

 

Environment: Altering location does not alter value. If an individual is not already human in the womb, moving down the birth canal does not automatically give the individual humanity and value.

 

Degree of Dependency: Yes, an individual in the womb is completely dependent on the mother. However, if dependency determines worth, are infants less valuable, because they would not be able to survive if left alone without a caretaker? What about a two-year old or a four-year-old? What about those who depend on insulin to regulate blood sugar? What about the elderly with deteriorating health who rely on the care of nursing home staff for feeding and hygiene?