When Does Each Human Life Begin?: The Answer of Science

babyScience confirms exactly what Scripture demonstrates, that there is a point at which human life does not exist and then is suddenly created by God. In Science this is known as the point of conception.

Dr. Alfred M. Bongiovanni, professor of obstetrics, University of Pennsylvania:

“I have learned from my earliest medical education that human life begins at the time of conception. I submit that human life is present throughout this entire sequence from conception to adulthood and any interruption at any point throughout this time constitutes a termination of human life.”

Dr. Jerome LeJeune, genetics professor at the University of Descartes in Paris (discoverer of the Down Syndrome chromosome):

“After fertilization has taken place a new human being has come into being. . . . This is no longer a matter of taste or opinion. Each individual has a very neat beginning, at conception.”

Professor Micheline Matthews-Roth, Harvard University Medical School:

“It is scientifically correct to say that an individual human life begins at conception.”

Professor Hymie Gordon, Mayo Clinic:

“By all the criteria of modern molecular biology, life is present from the moment of conception.”

Dr. Watson A. Bowes, University of Colorado Medical School:

“The beginning of a single human life is from a biological point of view a simple and straightforward matter—the beginning is conception.”

Dr. Landrum Shettles, pioneer in sperm biology, fertility and sterility, discoverer of male-and female-producing sperm:

“I oppose abortion. I do so, first, because I accept what is biologically manifest—that human life commences at the time of conception—and, second, because I believe it is wrong to take innocent human life under any circumstances.”

For more information on this subject, see Randy Alcorn's book ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments.

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries

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