Science and Technology Law Commons^™

The Politics Of Embryonic Discourse, Kevin P. Quinn

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

In our brave new world of stem cells, clones, and parthenotes,l how should we talk about early human embryos? In fashioning a response to this very thorny question, Ann Kiessling has a core message. It is: (1) that new science produces "new" conceptuses; (2) that science and scientists have failed to differentiate (with appropriate clarity) these new ex vivo conceptuses from those created in vivo; (3) that new, more appropriate and scientifically-informed, terms are necessary; and (4) that this new language should transform the public discourse about human embryos. No one would deny that the subtleties of human embryology are …