The rabbinic conception of conception: An exercise in fertility.

Abstract

The extraordinary advances of this century have been applied with full force to the field of science, and in particular to genetics and reproductive medicine. Man now has more control over his own reproduction than ever before in history, s~ch that the old notion of the doctor playing God has taken on new meaning. In the ultimate form of imitatio dei, it now appears that just as God creates, so does man. We currently have the capability to isolate a single sperm, unite it in-vitro with an egg, and test the resultant embryo for genetic abnormalities before subsequent implantation into a human being for the completion of gestation.

__Although all acknowledge the value of this technology, it is not without cost. Whereas the Talmud mentions only three partners in creation (see below), the husband, the wife, and God, current reproductive practices have expanded the list of potential partners to include the sperm donor, egg donor, surrogate mothers, and soon, with the application of genetic splicing to human gametes, the partial gene donor. If our limited experience is any measure, then introducing more partners clearly introduces more complications, be they emotional, financial, legal or ethical. (from Introduction)