Whose Mind Over Whose Matter? Women, In Vitro Fertilisation and the Development of Scientific Knowledge

The connection between particular goals and interests relating to experimentation on embryos derived from women’s eggs and the development of the concept ‘pre-embryo’ within science is shown.

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the development of scientific knowledge as a social activity. Specifically, the recent formulation of scientific knowledge of early cell differentiation represented in the term 'pre-embryo' is investigated. I examine the circumstances giving rise to the perception and articulation of the concept 'pre-embryo', and outline how this particular interpretation of perceived events in nature' is being incorporated as knowledge within the scientific community. That is, I examine the social infrastructure which gave rise to the expression and incorporation of this concept. In so doing, I show the connection between particular goals and interests relating to experimentation on embryos derived from women's eggs,1 and the development of the concept 'pre-embryo' within science.