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Artificial Wombs
By Paul Snamiska
Published on:
May 13, 2002
Category:
Spiritual Issues

"Science is a wonderful thing. To avoid letting mankind run out of ethical dilemmas (and all the sweet politics that flow from them) science happily trots up and drops a new gift on our doorstep." This quote appeared in the Washington Times on February 13, 2002. It came from the pen of Tony Blankley. What is he talking about?

Researchers are working to create a totally artificial womb. Several weeks ago, a team of scientists from Cornell University's Weill Medical College announced that they had succeeded, for the first time, in creating an artificial womb lining. The scientific team, led by Dr Hung Chiung Liu of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, stimulated cells to grow into uterine lining, using a cocktail of drugs and hormones.

Yosinori Kuwabara and his colleagues, working in a small research laboratory at Juntendou University in Tokyo,are developing the first operational artificial womb - a clear plastic tank the size of a bread basket, filled with amniotic fluid stabilized at body temperature. For the past several years, Kuwabara and his team have kept goat fetuses alive and growing for up to 10 days by connecting their umbilical cords to two machines that serve as a placenta, pumping in blood, oxygen and nutrients and disposing of waste products. While the plastic womb is still only a prototype, Kuwabara predicts that a fully functioning artificial womb capable of gestating a human fetus may be a reality in less than six years.

Jeremy Rifkin
Guardian Unlimited, a British online newspaper
Thursday January 17, 2002

His column references a news story that an artificial womb has been created! Take a minute and let your imagination run wild (it will take your wildest imagination and at least a minute to rival some of the current laboratory experiments). Potential outcomes seem a long way from God telling a freshly created Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 3:16).

Impact of Artificial wombs

Artificial wombs mean controlled pregnancies, a huge supply of babies for adoption, virtually no infertility issues, and maybe healthier children.

But there are glaring ethical downsides. Consider the insurance issue. A pregnancy currently means a mother will be effected by distractions, morning sickness, doctor's appointments and eventually a maternity leave from work. With an artificial womb a woman can eat and drink (even smoke) with no fear of hurting the child. There would be no loss of effective work time and no maternity leave for labor and delivery. If this is reality, which choice do you think efficiency-minded businesses will push?

For you young ladies, there might appear to be positives in this-no stretch marks, no C-sections, no maternity clothes. Think it through, though. It also means no personal bonding, no chance to feel the first "kick," and limited time to communicate with your baby before birth. Hardly seems worth it to me.

How should Christians react?

How should a Christian react? First, by turning to God's Word for direction. God's Word always tells us the proper way to view life, to make decisions, and to know God's heart. Second, react with care. Don't substitute trust in God for an opportunity to play god. Don't choose the easy way over the right way.

This is one more reason we need solid Christian leaders, who allow themselves to be directed by the Scriptures, in the fields of science and medicine. If you are considering training for these fields, be even more committed to your goals. And if you are not interested in these careers, encourage your Christian friends who are considering those fields of study.

The artificial womb isn't available for general use yet, but it might be around the corner. It has to make you wonder how Genesis 3:16 will be fulfilled in future generations.

Be sure to check out A Little Letter with a Big Message

Also look at the articles on the Christian Life Resources site:

http://www.christianliferesources.com/...363
http://www.christianliferesources.com/...56



Paul Snamiska is program administrator for WELS Lutherans for Life. To learn more about life issues, visit Christian Life Resources (www.ChristianLifeResources.com).

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