The Ambiguous Meaning of Human Conception

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 199 I. THE LEGAL BACKGROUND ........................................................ 200 II. THE SCIENCE............................................................................ 204 A. Insemination...................................................................... 205 B. Formation of the Pronuclei ................................................ 208 C. Replication of Pronuclear DNA.......................................... 209 D. Syngamy and Cleavage...................................................... 210 E. Activation of the Embryonic Genome ................................. 212 F. Implantation...................................................................... 215 III. CONSEQUENCES OF THE CHOICE .............................................. 216 IV. THE OPTIONS AND THE CONSIDERATIONS................................. 219 A. Potential ............................................................................ 220 B. Individuality ...................................................................... 220 C. Self-Direction .................................................................... 222 D. Genetic Completeness ........................................................ 223 E. Genome Assembly.............................................................. 224 F. Activation of the Embryonic Genome ................................. 225 CONCLUSION....................................................................................... 227