Will Sperm and Eggs Soon Be Declared People Too?
The Next Natural Step in the Progression
The Alabama Supreme Court says that embryos are people, too, joining the ranks of humans and corporations. In words that Tommy Tuberville, Sen R-AL, might understand, an embryo is formed when a male sperm interacts with a female egg or ovum and is in the early stages of development, usually between 2–8 weeks after fertilization. After that, it is considered a fetus.
The original court case was tied to three couples who attempted to have children using the process called In vitro fertilization (IVF). That process has become a popular method for couples to have children who otherwise were having problems doing so. Sperm from a male is combined with eggs from a woman outside the womb, and after an embryo is formed, it is implanted in the lining of the woman’s uterus for the prospective child to continue growth. The process typically results in multiple embryos developing, with one or more selected for insertion …
