Because the zygote can divide to produce twins, it cannot possibly be a human individual or person.
Because the zygote can divide to produce twins, it cannot possibly be a human individual or person.
This statement is illogical. It does not follow from the fact that a person is an individual that cannot be split that no individual exists before the zygote splits. For there are two other possibilities. First, there may be two individuals present in one body. Second, there may be one individual present and then two after the cell splits. Notice that the latter case is similar to what happens in cloning. A cell taken from one individual is developed into a second individual having the same genotype (The set of genetic instructions that dictate the characteristics of an individual.) See pp. 233-4.
Because the zygote can divide to produce twins, it cannot possibly be a human individual or person.
This statement is illogical. It does not follow from the fact that a person is an individual that cannot be split that no individual exists before the zygote splits. For there are two other possibilities. First, there may be two individuals present in one body. Second, there may be one individual present and then two after the cell splits. Notice that the latter case is similar to what happens in cloning. A cell taken from one individual is developed into a second individual having the same genotype (The set of genetic instructions that dictate the characteristics of an individual.) See pp. 233-4.