Potential: Objections
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The argument from potential assumes that rights are based not only on the properties a thing has but on those that it has the potential to develop. Consider the following hypothetical case: Suppose we had the ability to clone people from a single human cell. This would make every cell in every human body a potential human being and a potential person. What rights would each cell have? If rights depend on potential, it would seem that each cell would have the rights of a person. Would it be murder to kill or destroy a cell? How would you reply?

Suppose we take a cell from a finger and begin the process of cloning. The cell divides and redivides. After a few minutes we ask "Would it be murder to terminate the process and destroy the cell?" What do you think? How is this different from killing an embryo iin the process of development?

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