Is the human fetus a parasite according to science?

[QUOTE="galerouth"]can you prove me wrong with science? do you know what a cop-out is?Teenaged

Parasitism is a type of non mutual relationship between organisms of different species

2. We dont have to disprove you, cause whatever you're trying to infer from your conclusion that the fetus is a parasite, is just a subjective opinion.

"This is SCIENCE!"

*cites mainly wikipedia and yahoo answers*

:lol:

I'm pretty sure that science draws a distinction between parasitism and reproduction. Reproduction is an important characteristic of life; I mean look at our bodies - reproductive organs make up a significant part of the male and female anatomy.

can you prove it wrong? galerouth

Nah. A human fetus is a human fetus.

It makes sense. To be honest I always believed us to not be mammals, but more something like a parasite or virus. Mammals adapt to the world around them, while humans hijack the world around them, multiple in great numbers and move on when their is nothing left.fantasyfacade

Even though the bad does outweigh the good, it's better than nothing.

Science has no place in your argument. Please dont reference it.

Technically, it can be classified as a parasite, but the word parasite throws a demographic off.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"] So, every person is a mugger before they're even born?galerouth

[QUOTE="galerouth"]can you prove it wrong? BranKetra

[QUOTE="fantasyfacade"]It makes sense. To be honest I always believed us to not be mammals, but more something like a parasite or virus. Mammals adapt to the world around them, while humans hijack the world around them, multiple in great numbers and move on when their is nothing left.BranKetra

[QUOTE="galerouth"][QUOTE="BranKetra"] So, every person is a mugger before they're even born?BranKetra

[QUOTE="BranKetra"][QUOTE="fantasyfacade"]It makes sense. To be honest I always believed us to not be mammals, but more something like a parasite or virus. Mammals adapt to the world around them, while humans hijack the world around them, multiple in great numbers and move on when their is nothing left.fantasyfacade

Obviously the TC is trolling, but lets clarify a few things. Taking some quotes from medical literature out of context does not substitute for proof. A parasite is an invasive foreign invadingorganism that does not contribute anything positive to the host organism. A fetus is none of those things. If you look up biological life scientifically, you will understand better what goes on during pregancy. A women's egg becomes fertilized by a male sperm. Thus half the women's DNA and half the man's comprise the early embryo which will develop into the fetus. So it is not foreign. The women'sbody anticipates this process and produces many things to expedite this. Women have sex drives which help to encourage reproduction. They ovulate to help increase fertility. The uterus is a specially designed organ to house a growing embryo until it develops into a mature fetus. The fetus is kept alive by a functioning women's reproductive organs. That is what their design is for. So it is not invading.

Finally, looking at biological life - not philosophical- the purpose of biologic entitiesis to pass on andensure the survivability of their genes.So a fetus is serving the prime functionof a living organism - reproduction. All life needs in order to persist. Every biological organismthat weknow today functions that way. That's the end purpose of them. Otherwise, their species would no longerexist.

Now, this is not a referendum on the legality of abortion. That is a whole other issue. This is just a reflection that a fetus isnot a parasite.

Technically, it can be classified as a parasite, but the word parasite throws a demographic off.

Big_Pecks

A parasite / virus destroys the host within which it's living. Sound familiar?Nicksonman

:lol:

According to science a parasite is an organism that lives on or in an organism of another species, therefore fetus =/= parasiteTokeism

yes, mr. smarty-pants... we are not going to act like religious-retards up in here, and expect everyone should jebus without proof he is real. if you say that i'm wrong, prove it or go join a circle jerk, or play WOW, or something.galerouth

when did i say a BABY was a parasite? galerouth

What I'm trying to say is that in science our behavioral characteristics as a whole are closer to that of a virus then it is to the behavior of a mammal. You have listed off some mammals, but none of them have actually destroyed what they have made their home in. We are smart, therefore we should know better, but we continue to bleed the earth of its natural resources and in the process destroy land. While some of us have learned to coexist, many of us are not willing to give up the things we know harm the environment. The only thing those of us who wish to co-exist can do is to try to change it, but it is a slow process and unfortunately may not be enough.fantasyfacade

Obviously the TC is trolling, but lets clarify a few things. sonicare

A parasite is an invasive foreign invadingorganism that does not contribute anything positive to the host organism. A fetus is none of those things. If you look up biological life scientifically, you will understand better what goes on during pregancy. A women's egg becomes fertilized by a male sperm. Thus half the women's DNA and half the man's comprise the early embryo which will develop into the fetus. So it is not foreign.sonicare

Every biological organismthat weknow today functions that way. That's the end purpose of them. Otherwise, their species would no longerexist.

Now, this is not a referendum on the legality of abortion. That is a whole other issue. This is just a reflection that a fetus isnot a parasite.

sonicare

I honestly don't see what your point is. Instead of invading, would you rather it asked nicely and waited for a response?BranKetra

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]I honestly don't see what your point is. Instead of invading, would you rather it asked nicely and waited for a response?galerouth

Are you serious?

You've been arguing this whole time that a fetus is a parasite.

Parasites are negative creatures. Having offspring continues a species.It's a positive trait. That's the point. The universe doesn't build on nothing. You have to give what you want to get out. Read about the "law of conversation of energy." That's what happens in a pregnancy. It isn't a parasite, as already said by many others ITT.

I'm not sure why you keep arguing these minute points because the overall reason for the zygote's actions is a positive one.

[QUOTE="galerouth"][QUOTE="BranKetra"]I honestly don't see what your point is. Instead of invading, would you rather it asked nicely and waited for a response?BranKetra

Are you serious?

You've been arguing this whole time that a fetus is a parasite.

Parasites are negative creatures. Having offspring continues a species.It's a positive trait. That's the point. The universe doesn't build on nothing. You have to give what you want to get out. Read about the "law of conversation of energy." That's what happens in a pregnancy. It isn't a parasite, as already said by many others ITT.

I'm not sure why you keep arguing these minute points because the overall reason for the zygote's actions is a positive one.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

[QUOTE="galerouth"] oh, you are so cute. you make me feel like a little school all over again.galerouth

Are you serious?

You've been arguing this whole time that a fetus is a parasite.

Parasites are negative creatures. Having offspring continues a species.It's a positive trait. That's the point. The universe doesn't build on nothing. You have to give what you want to get out. Read about the "law of conversation of energy." That's what happens in a pregnancy. It isn't a parasite, as already said by many others ITT.

I'm not sure why you keep arguing these minute points because the overall reason for the zygote's actions is a positive one.

When a women has a child, she releases endorphins on that child. It is somewhat positive. Woman do have abortions, because they feel like they are inadequate to take care of that child. Women don't just get abortions for rec purposes.

[QUOTE="BranKetra"]

[QUOTE="galerouth"] oh, you are so cute. you make me feel like a little school all over again.galerouth

Are you serious?

You've been arguing this whole time that a fetus is a parasite.

Parasites are negative creatures. Having offspring continues a species.It's a positive trait. That's the point. The universe doesn't build on nothing. You have to give what you want to get out. Read about the "law of conversation of energy." That's what happens in a pregnancy. It isn't a parasite, as already said by many others ITT.

I'm not sure why you keep arguing these minute points because the overall reason for the zygote's actions is a positive one.

Think about somone who tried to save somone stuck in a burning building..the person performing the rescue has no benefit from it and is putting themselves in extreme harm. It does not make it a bad thing though.

How many times are you going to repost the OP, just out of sheer curiosity? I want to know how many more times I need to refuse to re-read it.

the goal of almost all animals is to survive and re produce.

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="galerouth"]can you prove me wrong with science? do you know what a cop-out is?galerouth

Parasitism is a type of non mutual relationship between organisms of different species

2. We dont have to disprove you, cause whatever you're trying to infer from your conclusion that the fetus is a parasite, is just a subjective opinion.

If you also look at other articles of wikipedia such as the article on commensalism and see some linked articles to it, you'll see that some bacteria such entamoeba coli that fall under commensalism (which means that the parasite benefits from the host but the host isnt harmed) are called parasites.

So there goes your whole definition of parasite and its negative aspect. If we go by wikipedia that is.

No, your own offspring can't be a parasite. At least not until it gets to be 25 years old and is still living at home :lol:

This is disgusting way to interpret things.

BranKetra

[QUOTE="galerouth"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]1. You are disproven:

Parasitism is a type of non mutual relationship between organisms of different species

2. We dont have to disprove you, cause whatever you're trying to infer from your conclusion that the fetus is a parasite, is just a subjective opinion.

Teenaged

If you also look at other articles of wikipedia such as the article on commensalism and see some linked articles to it, you'll see that some bacteria such entamoeba coli that fall under commensalism (which means that the parasite benefits from the host but the host isnt harmed) are called parasites.

So there goes your whole definition of parasite and its negative aspect. If we go by wikipedia that is.

[QUOTE="k2theswiss"]technically yes, Invades your body, takes over, makes your body ill, ect ectthegerg

Ah, the lengths people go to in order to rationalize killing an unborn baby.

Too bad people don't just call it what it is.... Killing. It's not like killing isn't 'acceptable' in other areas of life. We kill people on the battle field. We kill people on death row. Wekill people in self defence. Etc, etc

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="galerouth"] yeah, on opposite day in the year of NEVER. as a zygote, it invaded the woman's uterus using its TROPHOBLAST cells, hijacked her immune system by using NEUROKININ B and HCG--- so her body doesn't kill it, steals her nutrients to survive, and causes her harm or potential death. "It is also possible for a symbiotic relationship to exist between two organisms of the same species." http://www.answers.com/topic/symbiosis -- Gale's Science of Everyday Things. just like a parasitic twin --- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_twin "an animal or plant that lives in or on another (the host) from which it obtains nourishment. The host does not benefit from the association and is often harmed by it" http://www.thefreedictionary.com/parasite pregnancy CAUSES HARM: http://www.thelizlibrary.org/liz/004.htm since you believe that "Parasitism is a type of non mutual relationship between organisms of different species" then what's a parasitic twin?galerouth

If you also look at other articles of wikipedia such as the article on commensalism and see some linked articles to it, you'll see that some bacteria such entamoeba coli that fall under commensalism (which means that the parasite benefits from the host but the host isnt harmed) are called parasites.

So there goes your whole definition of parasite and its negative aspect. If we go by wikipedia that is.

Your quote doesnt even mention the word parasite/parasitic.

Dont you think that this doesnt help what you're trying to prove?

[QUOTE="galerouth"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]Weird, I also cited wikipedia when I said that parasitism is between organisms of different species.

If you also look at other articles of wikipedia such as the article on commensalism and see some linked articles to it, you'll see that some bacteria such entamoeba coli that fall under commensalism (which means that the parasite benefits from the host but the host isnt harmed) are called parasites.

So there goes your whole definition of parasite and its negative aspect. If we go by wikipedia that is.

Teenaged

Your quote doesnt even mention the word parasite/parasitic.

Dont you think that this doesnt help what you're trying to prove?

Ah, the lengths people go to in order to rationalize killing an unborn baby.

Too bad people don't just call it what it is.... Killing. It's not like killing isn't 'acceptable' in other areas of life. We kill people on the battle field. We kill people on death row. Wekill people in self defence. Etc, etc

Planet_Pluto