Project Description
Fetal Development
Day 1 – fertilization: all human chromosomes present; unique human life begins
Day 6 – embryo begins implanting in the uterus
Day 22 – heart begins to beat with the child’s own blood, often a different type than the mother’s
Week 5 – eyes, legs, hands begin to develop
Week 6 – brain waves detectable1; mouth lips present; fingers forming2
Week 7 – eyelids, toes form; nose distinct, baby kicking and swimming3
Week 8 – every organ in place4; bones5, fingerprints2 begin to form
Weeks 9 and 10 – teeth begin to form, fingernails develop; baby can turn head; frown2
Week 11 – baby can grasp objects placed in hand3
Week 17 – baby can have dream (REM) sleep7
Unless otherwise noted, information on fetal development taken from Keith L. Moore and T.V.N. Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed. (Philadelphia: W.B Saunders Co., 1993).
1. Hamlin, JAMA, 10/12/64. 2. Flanagan, The First Nine Months, 1965. 3. Valman & Pearsson, BMJ, 1/26/80. 4. Nilsson, A Child is Born, 1990. 5. Rugh & Shettles, From Conception to Birth, 1971. 6. P.E. Rockwell, Markle v. Abele, U.S. Supreme Court, 1971. 7. AMA News, 2/1/83. Full citations available upon request.
Cloning/Stem Cell Research
West Virginians for Life takes the position of supporting the type of stem cell research whereby a human embryo is not destroyed. Therefore there is no conflict with the use of adult stem cells and umbilical cord blood stem cells. There are 73 known cures and/or successful human therapies so far due to adult stem cells, while embryonic stem cell treatments have yielded none. To see this in scoreboard form, click here.