---
title: "“The early embryo is merely a clump of cells or a 'potential' human, not an actual human being.”"
description: "The early embryo is merely a clump of cells or a 'potential' human, not an actual human being."
type: "argument"
id: "def-clump-of-cells"
category: "Scientific"
mode: "Defensive"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/arguments/def-clump-of-cells.html"
---

# “The early embryo is merely a clump of cells or a 'potential' human, not an actual human being.”

**Category:** Scientific · **Mode:** Defensive · responds to an objection

## The objection

**The claim:**

> "The early embryo is merely a clump of cells or a 'potential' human, not an actual human being."

_A pro-choice argument._

### The strongest version of this argument

In the earliest days the embryo lacks a brain, heartbeat, sentience, or recognizable human form, and a large share of embryos never implant. It seems counterintuitive to equate a microscopic cluster of cells with a born child.

## The response

Every human is made of cells; 'a clump of cells' describes all of us. The relevant question is what kind of entity those cells constitute. Embryology answers that the zygote is a whole, self-directing, genetically distinct human organism — not an organ or tissue of the mother and not a different species — already the same individual it will be at every later stage. 'Potential' is misused: the embryo is not a potential human but a human with potential, developing itself according to its own nature. High natural embryo loss no more removes the humanity of the embryo than high infant mortality in past centuries removed the humanity of infants.

## Discussion questions

1. You and I are also 'clumps of cells.' What makes the embryo's cells different from a tumor's cells or a skin cell?
2. Is the embryo a potential human, or a human with potential? Does the distinction matter?

## References

- [The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology ('a zygote is the beginning of a new human being; human development begins at fertilization')](https://www.princeton.edu/~prolife/articles/embryoquotes.html) _(embryology textbook)_
  Keith L. Moore & T.V.N. Persaud (compiled) · Saunders/Elsevier
  **Supports:** the zygote is the beginning of a new human being
- [When Human Life Begins — 'a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism'](https://acpeds.org/when-human-life-begins/) _(medical position statement)_
  American College of Pediatricians · ACPeds
  **Supports:** 'whole, genetically distinct, individuated... living human organism'
- [Science confirms that human life begins at fertilization](https://nrlc.org/nrlnewstoday/2017/03/science-confirms-that-human-life-begins-at-fertilization/) _(science compilation)_
  National Right to Life · NRLC
  **Supports:** additional textbook statements to the same effect

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [Psalm 139:13-16](../scripture/psalm-139-13-16.md)
- [Psalm 51:5](../scripture/psalm-51-5.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [The science of embryology says a new human being exists from fertilization](arg-embryology-conception.md)
- [The unborn bear the image of God, so abortion is murder — a different category than 'a hard choice'](arg-image-of-God.md)
- [“The unborn is not a baby or a person until birth (or until viability); personhood is…”](def-not-a-person-until-birth.md)