Overview

"In The Facts of Life, Harold Morowitz and James Trefil, two distinguished scientists and science writers, examine what modern biology can contribute to our understanding of the abortion debate. Sensitive to the myriad ethical and religious arguments beyond the realm of science that swirl around abortion, the authors focus on one crucial question--when does a fetus acquire ""humanness,"" that quality that sets us apart from all other living things. While humans are linked via cell structure and cell chemistry with all life on our planet--from monkeys to fruit flys to pumpkins--it is the human brain structure which makes us who we are. Reviewing the latest advances in molecular biology, evolutionary biology, embryology, neurophysiology, and neonatology--fields that all bear on this question--the authors reveal a surprising consensus of scientific opinion; that humanness begins around the twenty-forth week of gestation when connections needed for brain function are finally made. A fascinating inquiry, moving across various scientific disciplines, The Facts of Life makes a valuable contribution to the continuing abortion controversy, and offers a fascinating glimpse of what makes us uniquely human."

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9780195090468

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Reviews

The book is concise, beautiful and intellectually high-powered, a reviewer's delight and the realization of every author's hope ... a volume which will keep readers from wool-gathering, no small feat with such dense, affect-laden material. Liza Zabarenko, Soc. Sci. Med, Vol. 39, No. 4, 1994

The book is concise, beautiful and intellectually high-powered, a reviewer's delight and the realization of every author's hope ... a volume which will keep readers from wool-gathering, no small feat with such dense, affect-laden material. * Liza Zabarenko, Soc. Sci. Med, Vol. 39, No. 4, 1994 *

A remarkable book on several levels, not the least of which is that Morowitz and Trefil are scientists and science writers who write in an accessible, provocative, and wonderfully frank way about a difficult subject--abortion....An essential piece of literature. --Los Angeles Times Book Review The Facts of Life makes important contributions to the tendentious debate about abortion....Should be indispensable to that vast majority of citizens who are troubled by the simplistic polemics that have (mis)informed much of the debate. --Joshua Lederberg, The Rockefeller University The women of America owe Professor Morowitz and Trefil a debt of gratitude. Their careful scientific review cuts through the hype and hyperbole in the abortion debate and gives us a new perspective on the future of this debate. Fascinating! --Ann Stone, Republicans for Choice Will disturb some, appeal to others, but interest all who wish to learn more about fetal development and its relevance to abortion issues. --Dominick P. Purpura, M.D., Dean, Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University Well-written and informative and will create much needed discussion of and reflection on the issue of abortion. --Laurence A. LArson, Ohio University, Science Books and Films

Author Information

About the Authors: Harold J. Morowitz is the Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Biology and Natural Philosophy at George Mason University and the author of The Thermodynamics of Pizza and Cosmic Joy and Local Pain. James S. Trefil is the Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University. He is the coauthor of Dictionary of Cultural Literacy and Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy.

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