by Cathleene Filmore

Created on: October 12, 2008   Last Updated: August 12, 2010

Due to advances in antenatal screening, screening that combines biomedical technology, genetic screening and ultrasound technology, a mother can now see the face of her unborn baby as early as 15 weeks into the pregnancy (Aksoy, 2001). This is done by 4-D ultrasound. 

A couple at risk for a Down Syndrome infant can have privy to the information well in advance of the child's birth and, according to the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, some infertility doctors in England are being forced to socially and genetically screen prospective couples before performing any fertilization treatments.

We have discovered that indeed each ovum is imprinted with DNA that is more individual than even our fingerprints and yet we still wonder when does life begin (Birth Mother Ministries, 2006). We know when an ovum becomes a zygote and when a zygote becomes a fetus. It is this discovery of DNA that should end the question as to when that fetus becomes a baby, and end it for good. It has been discovered that each ovum that emerges has its own genetic fingerprints (Birth Mother Ministries, 2006). This evidence of DNA should not only lead to question our views on abortion, but our infertility practices as well. I am not suggesting that we end the practice of assisting infertile couples all together. These are indeed an incredible procedures, however it is time to consider an alternative to the practice of discarded eggs and sperm. 

When I was pregnant with my daughter I was attending an ethics class at a local university. One night the professor brought up a question regarding the beginning of the human life. She wanted to know when we believed a "fetus" becomes life (Fuller, 2008).

Surprisingly I had to think about what she had said. Although I had heard the heartbeat of my unborn child that very week, I was unsure on my position as to when she had become a baby. It was true that she was not yet able to think, or talk, but she certainly looked like a child on the monitor in the doctor's office (Fuller, 2008).

Upon further discussion the class began to debate the ethical issues of the "morning after pill" as well as stem cell research. I found myself quite overwhelmed and confused with the whole situation, until my heart remembered the scriptures found in Psalms chapter 139:13-18 (Fuller, 2008).

My Heavenly Father created my one-of-a-kind fingerprints while I was yet in my mother's flesh. I was respectfully and beautifully made by the same hands that formed the

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