Beginning of human life

I have recently been reading much correspondence on the beginning of human life in this newspaper.

I have also noticed the blatant use of philosophical terms misplaced. I would like to clarify some points.

One must distinguish between the potential of human cells such as sperm and ova and the potential of the human organism capable of self-replication and autonomous growth. This potency is reached at fertilisation.

Human embryonic organisms need DNA from both the male and the female gender to develop to maturity and birth. The actual capacity to change potency into human act is only found in such bi-gender embryos.

One must beware of subjective pragmatic definitions of the beginning of human life and pregnancy by political institutions to suit their own current needs based on local practical considerations, as is the British definition of the beginning of human life (Warnocke Report) at two weeks of embryonic development. This is not a generally accepted statement.

The life of the human organism (and personhood) starts at fertilisation. It is very difficult to argue that there is not a human organism at fertilisation.