Abortion is the act of deliberately causing the death of an unborn child (Abortion 1). When it comes to genetics and other life sciences it can be proven that a new and completely unique human being is born at the moment of conception (When does life begin? When does it begin 1). Within 5-6 weeks the baby will begin to live in the mother. During this period, which is the moment in which the mother usually discovers the pregnancy, the baby will have already begun to metabolize nourishment, expel waste, move, grow and perform numerous other actions. The baby's heart can start beating as early as 21 days after conception. About 40 days after conception, the baby's brain waves can be read on devices such as an electroencephalogram (When does life begin? When does it begin 2). The question then becomes a hotly debated question in modern society: Should a woman be given the right to abortion (When does life begin? When does it begin 3)? On January 22, 1973, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a woman's right to abortion is protected by the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and this ruling has been a highly controversial issue ever since. This decision was made due to the court case known as Roe vs. Wade, in which Norma McCorvey (Roe) filed a lawsuit against Dallas County District Attorney Henry Wade (Wade). McCorvey was filing a lawsuit against Wade who upheld Texas laws prohibiting abortion making it difficult for McCorvey to obtain the procedure. The court ruled in a 7-2 decision that a woman's rights are protected by the Fourteenth Amendment, which included the medical procedure of abortion. The court also ruled that all states must recognize a woman's right to an abortion, although each state may insert specific... half of the document... and. Web March 5, 2014. direct=true&db=a9h&AN=84739651&site=ehost-live>. Quindlen, Anna. “How much prison time?” Newsweek 150.6 (2007): 68. Company source completed. Network. March 5, 2014. login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=25972382&site=ehost-live>. “Roe v. Wade Fast Facts.” CNN. Cable News Network, November 4, 2013. Web. March 8, 2014. "When Does Life Begin?" New Scientist 189.2543 (2006): 8. Science Reference Center. Network. March 5, 2014.?direct=true&db=sch&AN=20340723&site=ehost-live>."When does life begin?" When does life begin? Pro-Life Doctors Association, nd Web. 06 March. 2014. .