“How much time remains in pregnancy before the unborn child is considered human? At what point will he receive fundamental rights?” These propositions have been the subject of one of the most controversial discussions of the century. Based on the research I have completed on this topic, it has been made indisputable to me that life begins at the moment of conception. While I, along with many other pro-life advocates, believe that human life is set in motion at conception, there is an important group of individuals who might disagree. They firmly believe that the embryo is only a “potential human being”. Many abortionists trust the idea that the embryo should not be considered a full human being, since it is completely dependent on the mother. While this reasoning seems plausible, when analyzed a little deeper, it does not appear to be the case. Imagine the following scenario. A man travels along a busy road on his motorbike. Suddenly the man loses control of his bicycle and collides with a car that was overtaking him on the road. This man is then rushed to the emergency room where doctors discover that, although he is lucky to still be alive, he is completely paralyzed. He is now solely dependent on healthcare providers, family and friends for all aspects of his life that he could previously complete independently. Does this total dependence on others dehumanize him in some way? No. This man is still a human being "by nature". The situation of the paralyzed man is now comparable to that of the human embryo. According to the Basics of Biology textbook, life begins at fertilization. This is when the sperm joins the egg. To distinguish whether an organism is alive or not, there are several crucial characters...... half of the article ...... the leading scientists of our society today. Works Cited “When Does Life Begin?” When does life begin? Pro-Life Doctors Association, n.d. Web. November 30, 2013. .Dougherty, Jon E. "RECENT ARTICLES." Life begins at conception. Catholic Education Resource Center, 2001. Web. November 30, 2013. .Alcorn, Randy. "Because life begins at conception." Naapc.org. The National Association for the Advancement of Prenatal Children, n.d. Web. November 30, 2013. .Slick, Matt. “Is an embryo human?” CARM. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, n.d. Web. November 30, 2013. “Human.” Merriam Webster. Merriam-Webster and Web. November 30. 2013. .