What Does Science Tell Us About Unborn Life
The science of biology says that an individual human life begins at fertilization (conception) and is continuous, either in the womb or out, until natural death.  Starting as a one-celled organism called a zygote, each human life goes through a series of stages:

• Pre-Embryonic Stage:  From fertilization to 20 days of gestation.
  Cell division takes place rapidly and elementary body systems are formed.  The heart starts beating as early as 18 days.
• Embryonic Stage:  From 3-8 weeks.
  At 3 weeks the baby's arms, legs, eyes, and ears start to form.
  Brain waves can be detected and measured as early as 6 weeks, and at 8 weeks the heartbeat  can be heard with an electronic stethoscope, seen on an ultrasound screen, and recorded    in an electrocardiogram.
  The 8-week-old baby responds to touch, sucks his thumb, and grasps an object contacting his hand.  He has sleeping and waking periods, is active, and moves about in the amniotic sac.
• Fetal stage:  From 8-39 weeks.
  The term fetus is a Latin work meaning "little one."
   At 10-11 weeks the baby's body is completely formed, including the fingerprints he will
   take with him for the rest of his life.  At 12-13 weeks no new organs or body systems form.
   Except for size and weight, the baby is essentially complete.