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March 08, 2006

Who is Anti Science Now?

I'm a regular visitor to Daily Kos, but I'm embarassed to see this load of BS on the front page. Hello, Biology 101. Maybe DarkSyde was asleep in class? A sperm has a half set of chromosomes. An egg has a half set of chromosomes. A zygote has a full set of chromosomes formed by combining the two. There is no gray area here. I have always understood conception as the point when your complete set of 46 chromosomes comes together for the first time.

What the hell is this moron talking about?


The Imaginary Conception

by DarkSyde

Wed Mar 08, 2006 at 04:42:10 AM PDT

In science, the term "conception" commonly refers to fertilization. But among bioethicists, conception is sometimes defined as implantation or even "the point at which human life begins". Because of the imprecise meaning of the term, it has served as the fulcrum for semantic arguments within the abortion debate. The typical usage one encounters among anti-choice proponents is that life begins at conception. The statement is often made with complete confidence as though it's the uncontroversial scientific truth.

It does sound good, hard to argue against, right? Nope, it's a right-wing myth, as accurate scientifically as 'there is no evidence for global warming' and 'Intelligent Design is a scientific theory'.

From the American Heritage Dictionary:


con·cep·tion
n.

Formation of a viable zygote by the union of the male sperm and female ovum; fertilization.
The entity formed by the union of the male sperm and female ovum; an embryo or zygote.

Sure, you can freeze an embryo, but it's still an embryo. Good grief.

Posted by Mike at March 8, 2006 11:54 AM

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