ethicsforschools.org


	Conception

Syllabus requirements for GCSE and A'level regarding concepetion includes:- definition, sexual intercourse, in-vitro fertilisation, artificial insemination by donor, artificial insemination by husband, surrogacy, deciding to have a child, implications for those who take part and for the children of artificial methods of conception.

The growth in our knowledge about human reproduction means that there are now many methods for conception of a new person. Some of these methods are outlined in the following articles:

The increase in knowledge raises questions about when life begins...at what point does a new person start to exist?

The different methods of assisted conception offer a new range of choices for prospective parents. At the moment these are limited to avoiding genetic diseases, but in the future the extent of options may increase:

Obviously, the issues raised by contraception - which is the avoidance of conception - are also relevant here and can be accessed through the contraception index. The areas of cloning and abortion also overlap with conception.

The syllabus also mentions the decision to have a child, and surrogacy in relation to conception. Articles which discuss this can be found through the adoption and fostering index. The responsibilities of child bearing and rearing are relevant to the wider comommuntiy aswell as to the propoective parents:

Population Control

A review of news items on infertility treatments, reproductive technologies and other related issues can be found through the news index.

A'level RS index

GCSE RS index

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