But they do not have the characteristics I described in post #31. Sperm and ovum do not have a unique DNA sequence. They don't even have one complete DNA sequence and they can't replicate their own cells. Those are the defining characteristics of a discrete individual living being and the type of DNA defines the type of being. Those characteristics come into existence at conception.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (ESV)Seems to me that some of these people would find a way to justify aborting Jesus Himself.
Unique DNA as a defining characteristic of a human being is meaningless. The trees and grass in my yard all have unique DNA. The cows down the street and the birds flying overhead all have unique DNA. Unique DNA is a pretty universal and unremarkable characteristic. On the other hand, if ten thousand people were all cloned from the same population of stem cells, not a single one would have unique DNA or would have resulted from conception, yet they would each be a distinct individual. That is because they would each have a separate brain--the *only* factor that is demonstrably necessary for a person to exist. The only purpose for the rest of the body is to support the brain. Without the brain, the rest of the body is just meat.