CHAPTER 2 REVISION

CHAPTER 2 REVISION

1. Artificial insemination

   • Artificial insemination (AI)- Sperm medically inserted into the vagina to assist pregnancy
   • Artificial insemination by husband (AIH)- When a woman is made pregnant by the sperm of her husband but not through having sexual relations with him
   • Artificial insemination by donor (AID)-When a woman is made pregnant by the sperm of a man other than her partner, but not through having sexual relations with him
   • Christian responses towards Artificial insemination
     • All forms of artificial insemination are wrong- Many Christians would say that people do not have a right to have their own children but that they are a gift from God and only God can make new life. Some believe that new life should be the fruit of marriage created within the loving relationship of the man and wife.
     • Artificial insemination with the husband's sperm is not morally justified- Some Christians think that you can use medical technologies such as artificial insemination to help have babies, and correct nature. The Church of England teaches it may be right if the husband's sperm is used, as this may help the couple to have the child they wish for.
     • Artificial insemination with donor sperm may be morally justified- Some Christians may argue that donor sperm could be used in certain circumstances. If parents prefer to have a child that is biologically indentical then this may be the most loving thing to do.

2. In vitro ferilisation (IVF)

   • In vitro fertilisation (IVF)- a scientific method of making a woman pregnant, which does not involve sex. Conception occurs via sperm and egg being placed into a test tube
   • Arguments for IVF
     • Couples should have a right to try for children. Human beings are made with the ability to reproduce.
     • Infertility is like an illness, it can cause sadness and depression so couples should receive medicle help
     • God asked human beings to 'go forth and multiply', so IVF is using science to fulfil God's plan by correcting mistakes in nature
   • Arguments against IVF
     • Children are a gift from God and not something people have a right to have. IVF encourages the idea that children are something we have a right to have.
     • IVF involves the destruction of new life, this is against God's law.
     • New life should come only from natural love making and not from scientific processes. The Bible says that new life should come from the coming together of husband and wife.

3. Surrogacy

   • Surrogate mother- a woman who has a baby for another woman
   • Surrogacy- a form of fertility treatment in which a woman's egg is fertilised artificially by another woman's partner or an embryo from another couple is created through IVF and then implanted into the 'host' woman. The woman carries the baby throughout pregnancy and gives it to the other couple after birth
   • Christian responses to surrogacy
     • The Bible contains examples of surrogacy. Some Christians may use this to argue that surrogacy could be justified morally. Women offering themselves as surrogate mothers could argue that they are doing just as Bible teachings.
     • Other Christians may not use the biblical examples and instead believe it is a loving thing to do. Christians believe that responding to the love God gives them should involve loving responses to others
     • Some Christians are opposed to surrogacy as it involves another person in the relation in between the married couple and in the act of creating new human life. Also it undermines the right of the child to be conceived, carried in the womb, born and brought up within marriage.

4. Genetic engineering

   • Cloning- the scientific method which animals or plants can be created which have exactly the same gentic make up as the original, because the DNA of the original is used
   • Embryo- fertilised ovum at about 12-14 days when implanted into the wall of the womb
   • The two types of genetic engineering
     • Embryonic stem cell cloning- the use of the new technology to create new genetically identical life. This uses embryonic stem cells taken from human embryos.
     • Gene therapy- the use of the technology to develop new tissue cells that could be used to treat diseases. This uses adult stem cells.

5. Embryo research and hybrid embryos

   • Hybrid embryo- a mixture of both human and animal tissue
   • Christian responses to embryo research and hybrid embryos
     • For some Christians the embro already has the same human dignity as a person who has been born from the moment of conception.
     • Some are against this as embryo is a human which must be valued as highly as a human life. The embryo is an innocent human and taking innocent life is wrong. The Bible encourages Christians to care for others.
     • Others believe the human embryo is important but not the same as the born human being. Embryo research could bring medical cures which will help those who are suffering from terrible diseases.

6. Embryonic stem cell (theraputic)cloning

   • Reproductive cloning- the use of cloning techniques to produce a baby
   • Theraputic cloning-another term for stem cell cloning
   • Christian responses to stem cell cloning
     • It involves the destruction of an embryo so they do not like it. Christians believe life from conception is sacred.
     • Some do not believe that human life must be protected from the point of conception, but rather from some point later.
     • Children have a right to two biological parent, a right denied if they are a cloned child because they would only have one parent and God intends for two.

7. Gene therapy and designer babies

   • Designer babies- babies with gender and characteristics chosen by their parents-currently illegal
   • Arguments against designer babies
     • Designer babies may involve the selection of embryos that have the 'right' features and the destruction of those which do not.
     • There is risk that the test itself could damage the foetus thus harming a human being
     • Some Christians believe that the interest in designer babies shows an unhealthy search for the 'perfect' child
   • Arguments for designer babies
     • Some Christians argue that designer babies are morally acceptable when it comes to ensuring the babies are healthy.
     • The suffering of parents who give birth to one child after another who will die at a very early age is appalling. Christians would support a technique which enabled children born to fulfil their potential.

8. Saviour siblings

   • Arguments against saviour siblings
     • To get a saviour sibling many other embroys are discarded, destroyed. Christians who believe in the sanctity of human life from conception will oppose.
     • Creating a child to save another person means we do not value it for what it is but what it can do for another.
     • Saviour siblings may be emotionally damaged when they find out they were only chosen for their sibling
   • Arguments for saviour siblings
     • Some Christians may argue that saviour siblings are no different from other kinds of blood or organ donation.
     • A saviour sibling could be treated as a person as well as someone who can bring healing to another.
     • Parents have more than one child for many different reasons