Moral status of preimplantation embryos.

Seo, Kyung

Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 51(3); 2008 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008;51(3):286-289.
Published online: March 1, 2008

Moral status of preimplantation embryos.

Kyung Seo

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kyungseo@yuhs.ac

Abstract

here have been continuing challenges to devaluate the moral status of early embryo. The preembryo-embryo distinction was mainly based on the lack of individuation. The term of preembryo was introduced by a frog embryologist and then was literally spread around the world because of policy reasons. The term "preembryo" has not yet been used in most medical textbooks including textbooks of human embryology. Preembryo is one period of continuum during human development and therefore should be regarded as valuable as an early form of human life. Preimplantation embryo is more accurate term for the early embryo.

Keywords: Preembryo; Preimplantation embryo