PHI 240: Ethics of Fetal Development & Abortion (Daniels)

You will use the resources presented in this research guide to help you answer the questions posed in the class assignment. If you have questions about how to use the resources listed, or you are having trouble researching, contact a librarian for help. 

Human embryo for IVF (cropped). Credit: K. Hardy. Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Abortion Questions - Life or Tissue?

Go to the library and search out information on fetal development, from conception to birth. Research the characteristics of a fetus at conception, 10 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and birth. Also research any information on premature births. You will use this research to help with this week’s assignment.

1. When do you believe human life begins?
    
2. What are the stages of fetal development?
    
3. When does the fetus have a heartbeat, a brain, and its own blood type?
    
4. How early are premature babies born, and how little can they weigh at birth?
    
5. Can a baby be aborted at the same stage of development at which a premature baby can be born?
    
6. What is the ontological status of the fetus?
    
7. When does life begin, based on your findings, and what surprised you the most?

The username and password to access databases is the same as what you use to log in to myPittCC and Moodle. The username is your entire myPittCC email address (jdstudent000@my.pittcc.edu). 

Community logins are available to Pitt County residents with PCC library cards and others who are enrolled in or are affiliated with PCC programs and continuing education courses. Scroll down and look for the "Community Login" section.