The human child is commonly called an "embryo" from the time of implant- ation in the uterus until about 8 weeks after fertilization occurred; a- fter which it is often referred to as the "fetus" (which is Latin for "offspring" or "young one") - until the time the baby is delivered; usu- ally at around 9 months, or about 40-42 weeks. Fetus "In human beings, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after conception to the moment of birth, as distinguished from the earl- ier embryo." Embryo "In human beings, the prefetal product of conception from implantation through the eighth week of development." The American Heritage Dictionary
They're fake, right? Wrong. These are real people. The pictures were taken at the Prenatal Section of the Life Exhibit of one of the world's largest and most renowned scientific museums - the prestigious Chicago Museum of Science and Industry - except for the final picture, which is a picture of a picture in a diorama in the Genetics Exhibit. One of the world's most respected hospitals, Michael Reese, together with Pathology Associates of Chicago, Ltd., help to maintain the display. Neither is this a recently added exhibit; though the people in it may have chang- ed, and been added to, over the years. I can't remember when the exhib- it wasn't there, and I've been going to the museum since about 1972. I do vaguely remember some people claiming the exhibit was fake, and try- ing to shut it down, a number of years ago; but they got nowhere. This exhibit draws people big-time; I had to stand in line five times to get the pictures; which the museum allows so long as you don't use special equipment. And, unfortunately, in case you didn't notice, most of the pictures did- n't turn out very well. It's especially difficult to take pictures of something relatively small through two separate layers of glass with a point and shoot camera. I got mostly pictures of fingerprints on the glass, and reflections from the glass. So you'll notice there are lots of gaps in the numbers. The other drawback is that you can't really get a sense of scale. So you should see for yourself, first hand, when you are in the Chicago area. Actually, if you live within driving range, and have children, you should plan at the least an annual pilgrimage to the museum anyway; because there's so much to see, do, and learn about there. This last trip I spent the whole day in the Life and Genetics Exhibits and on the Science Balcony. I realized it was time to go when they started setting tables for a fund raiser. But the first time there you'll probably want to cover as much ground as possible, and then zero in on areas of special interest later. The boys will especially like to go through the captured German submarine (which was recently renovated), and the girls will love the Fairy Castle. If your children have never been on a jetliner or passenger train, they can go through them there (honest, the plane's hanging from the ceiling). I dragged my ninety year old mother along this last trip. She got on an elevator, and the next thing she knew she was in a coal mine. And they've just added that new- ly discovered giant crocodile you've probably been reading about to one room on the main floor. It's not quite as big as the railway cars - but close. Also in the most fascinating category are the Space Exhibit and the Omnimax Theater. Click on the link to the museum web site, above, to get all the details. I did, and found a list of all the exhibits and activities - among other things. Of course, then I had to see what they had to say about their Prenatal Exhibit - "a unique look at the journey we all made from a fertilized egg to a complete human being. To the best of our knowledge, their survival was prevented by natural causes or ac- cidents."
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