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Line 1: − [[Image:Sperm-egg.jpg|thumbnail|Sperm cell hitting an egg cell]]+ − − '''Human reproduction''' is the process by which children are conceived and born. In order for human reproduction to occur under normal circumstances, a man and woman engage in [[sexual intercourse]]. Exceptionally, reproduction may take place via procedures such as [[in vitro fertilization]]. [[Christianity]] sanctions intercourse within [[marriage]]; most non-Christian cultures also enshrine this activity within a marriage-like union: a lifelong, religiously and legally sanctioned bond between one man and one woman. − {{clear}} − ==Spiritual aspects== − [[Image:Soul_Conception.jpg|thumbnail|Artist's conception of soul joining the fertilized egg at conception.]] − − Human reproduction serves to create new human beings and with these human beings comes a [[soul]]. The soul appears with the person at the moment of [[conception]], making him a complete human being from the very start. This is why [[abortion]] is considered [[murder]]: the abortionist has rent the soul from a living human body, the soul being the source of a full life for human beings. If there was no soul present in the human at the time of conception and it entered the body at some later stage, then until that moment the [[fetus]] would hypothetically be nothing more than an animated body, similar to how animals and plants are alive but without souls. Thus, if this were the case, abortion would not be murder, but rather a termination of a non-human entity, at least until the soul finally joined the body. However, there is no evidence that the soul can enter the body at any time later than conception. Since the soul is intrinsic to human beings, it absolutely must be present at conception and therefore abortion is murder. − − There are many religious beliefs, even within [[Christianity]], on the origin of the soul that accompanies a new human being. Some believe portions of the souls of the parents combine to form the new soul. Some believe a free-floating soul becomes trapped within the body. Some believe a soul is created with the fusion of the gametes, in a meta-chemical process. Believers of [[reincarnation]] would say that the soul of a previously deceased person or animal (this religion believes animals have souls too) would enter the new body, so that there is a spiritual [[memory]] of the previous life. − − ==Biological aspects== − − The ultimate act of intimacy serves to unite the male and female [[gamete]]s, the [[sperm]] and [[egg]], respectively. These gametes carry just one half of the [[gene]]tic material ([[chromosome]]s) from each parent, and when they combine the new [[embryo]] contains a full set of chromosomes. The process of the gametes combining is called [[fertilization]], and takes place inside the woman's body, in the [[Fallopian tubes]] or [[uterus]]. The embryo then attaches itself to the uterine lining, and is nourished by the placenta (which in turn receives its nourishment from the mother's body) while it develops. This development takes roughly nine months (see [[Naegele's Rule]]). − − At the end of this process of protected development, what was once an embryo is now born as a new baby. Human babies are relatively helpless, and depend on the care and love of their parents in order to survive to maturity themselves. − − Humans are not able to reproduce alone by [[budding]], [[parthenogenesis]], or [[self-cloning]] as some species are capable of. In addition, human [[gender]] is fixed at conception, unlike some species'; females are not able to become male or vice versa to deal with homogeneous populations of one gender. − − == References == − <references/> − − [[Category:Sexuality]] − − == External Links == − *[http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/when-does-life-begin Opposing Views: When Does Life Begin?]
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Oh you mean the birds and the bees. Well when a bird sees a bee it eats it, so stay away from birds or else.