The status of pre-embryos and fetal tissue

[Aristotle's Child]

Originally Posted by Vizio

Does a skin cell become a human being if allowed to develop naturally? Obviously, the answer is "no". Yet, a fertilized egg does become a viable human being if allowed to develop naturally. There's your difference, and it's why a fetus has a right to life.

RESPONSE:

Mamallian skin cells contain the complete genome of their species. If cloned and placed in a uterus, it "naturally" becomes a adult of that species. See the cloning of "Dolly" the sheep.

No different from a fertilized egg which also has the complete genome.

Wilmut I; Schnieke AE; McWhir J; Kind AJ; et al. (1997). "Viable offspring derived from fetal and adult mammalian cells". Nature 385 (6619): 810–3. Bibcode:1997Natur.385..810W. doi:10.1038/385810a0. PMID 9039911.

Viable offspring can be produced from singe cell nuclear transfer.

[Aristotle's Child]

Originally Posted by Vizio

Does a skin cell become a human being if allowed to develop naturally? Obviously, the answer is "no". Yet, a fertilized egg does become a viable human being if allowed to develop naturally. There's your difference, and it's why a fetus has a right to life.

Could Human Beings Be Cloned?

"The news that researchers have used cloning to make human embryos for the purpose of producing stem cells may have some people wondering if it would ever be possible to clone a person.
Although it would be unethical, experts say it is likely biologically possible to clone a human being. But even putting ethics aside, the sheer amount of resources needed to do it is a significant barrier.
Since the 1950s when researchers cloned a frog, scientists have cloned dozens of animal species, including mice, cats, sheep, pigs and cows."