Abortion: A Topic of Deadly Consequences

To begin, my opponent stated the following: "The answer to that is no, but a coma patient is sentient. Like a man in a deep sleep, a coma patient is simply UNCONSCIOUS. I didn't say consciousness was something that gives an individual rights. I don't have the right to kill you when you sleep, when you fall into a coma, or when I hit you over the head with a sap. The fact that you're not actively utilizing your sentience makes no difference, you have it nonetheless. Conscious does not mean sentient. " To provide a foundation for my claims I provide a definition from my opponents most trusted Merriam-Webster. Main Entry: sen•tient 1 : responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2 : AWARE 3 : finely sensitive in perception or feeling Merriam-Webster defines sentience as a state of responsiveness and consciousness. Furthermore, Merriam Webster defines insentience as follows: Main Entry: in•sen•tient : lacking perception, consciousness, or animation — in•sen•tience \-sh(ē-)ən(t)s\ noun Merriam-Webster defines insentience as a lack of consciousness and perception. Seeing as an individual in a coma or in a vegetative state is lacking in consciousness and perception they can and, in fact, are defined as completely insentient. There is, therefore, no difference in sentiency between a fetus and an "unconscious individual." Both are equally incapable of feeling emotion and perceiving with their senses. ___________________________________________________________ Next, my opponent chose to compare my use of DNA as a basis to declare an organism human as fallible by suggesting that somehow race enters the equation. Race has absolutely nothing to do with the definition of "human". Black, White, Asians, Hispanics all have the same genetic make-up. We are of the same Genus and Species and are scientifically similar enough in DNA that we are all without doubt considered human. In Fact, the difference in DNA between races is almost invisible. Being that we are of the same Genus and Species, we are all scientifically human. ____________________________________________________________ Lastly, Since my opponent believes I have manufactured my definition of "Human" to suit my argument (much like he defined "sentient" to best suit his argument) I will continue explaining my definition of "Human" using scientific facts. Scientifically speaking, a human can best be defined as a member of the genus "Homo" and the species "Sapien". That is a scientific fact. Scientifically speaking, A species is determined by its genetic make-up. Its DNA "A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are often used, such as based on similarity of DNA or morphology." -http://en.wikipedia.org... As stated by the definition, DNA is a more precise way to define a species. Finally, A fetus is, in fact, human because it is a member of the Homo genus and the Species, Sapien. So, scientifically, a fetus is human as long as it is alive. _____________________________________________________________ In closing, my opponent has tried to define humanity, by consciousness and sentience. This definition fails as those in a coma or in a vegetative state are completely insentient as defined earlier in this round, yet it remains illegal to kill them. Furthermore, my opponent claims that my definition of human is manufactured by myself. I have, myself, redefined the meaning or "genetically human" using scientific fact and sources. Seeing as a fetus, genetically is a human as defined previously, it is immoral to kill them. Hence Murder is Bad Abortion is Murder Abortion is Bad