The First Cell Begins to Multiply
The cell containing 46 chromosomes that is formed from
the union of the sperm and the egg is the first cell
of a new human being that will open its eyes to the
world in nine months. The first and single cell which
contains the plan for the whole body is called the "zygote".
The first cell division happens 24 hours after the
sperm and the egg unite. These two newly formed cells
are identical to each other. With this, the first day
of the 9-month period of life in the mother's womb begins.
Now there are not one but two cells in the mother's
womb. Later this number will increase to four and continue
in this way as the division multiplies.21
The cells in the cell cluster in the fallopian
tube continue to divide and grow and move towards the
place where they will spend the next nine months. This
is the mother's womb (uterus).
uniting with the sperm, the egg cell begins to
divide. In the first division 2 cells are formed;
these two cells divide internally and within a
short time a cluster of cells is formed. As a
result of the transformations undergone by this
cluster, the vital structures of the baby are
formed. After the period the baby spends in its
mother's womb, it is ready in every way for life
in the outside world.
The heart, nerves, spine,
arteries, lungs, teeth, bones, taste-buds-all
these vital parts are formed while the embryo
goes through the stages in the mother's womb.
For example, at the end of the third month, the
sex of the baby has been determined. The parts
of the brain have been formed. At the end of the
eighth month, virtually all parts of the baby's
body have been formed.
In this stage, the necessary changes occur in the uterus.
Blood rushes into the uterus and makes it strong and
resilient. As we mentioned in the previous section,
the corpus luteum in the ovary increases its secretion
and informs the body that pregnancy has begun. In the
meantime, the zygote moves with a swimming motion towards
the uterus and begins to send a biochemical signal containing
the message, "I'm here!" These messages make the mother's
body prepared to ensure the presence of the salt, iron,
blood and vitamins needed by the foetus. At the same
time, the biochemical message that the zygote has secreted
(the hCG hormone), reaches the mother's ovary and causes
another hormone to be secreted there which prevents
another period of ovulation (menstrual period) in the
The zygote is still composed of a few cells. The fact
that it knows where it is and immediately sends signals
relevant to the 9-month period that will follow is an
extraordinary thing. How does the zygote know to whom
it will send the message? How do the various organelles
that receive the message know that it comes from a microscopic
piece of flesh that they have never encountered before,
and begin to help it by preparing an environment in
which it will live? After all, the hormone secreted
by the zygote is composed of molecules; so, how do the
cells, in the place where these molecules are received,
know what these molecules intend by arriving at that
place? When a message is sent to a human being in a
language that he understands, it is possible for him
to read and understand it, and to make a decision on
the basis of what he has understood. But in this case,
the message consists of a hormone composed of a few
molecules; what sends the message is a collection of
cells; what receives the message is a slightly larger
collection of cells. It is certainly a miracle that
cells read and understand messages (hormones) that come
to them just as a human being understands a message
Moreover, how does this zygote know what materials
it will need in the course of its growth?
For example, think of yourself. What do you need to
eat in order for your body to become strong? What minerals
do you need to take? You can only learn this by studying
scientific work that has been done in this area. What
effects do potassium, phosphorus and calcium have on
your body? From what food can you get these things?
When should you take this food and how much should you
take? These are things that you cannot know without
consulting an expert. You, as a thinking, seeing, intelligent
and feeling person, with the faculty of speech, can
only know these things by seeking assistance; whereas
a minute cluster of cells knows what it needs, and that
it is necessary to produce it if that need is to be
met; it knows who can produce what is necessary and
that a signal must be sent to begin the process of production.
Moreover, in spite of the fact that it has been in the
body for only a few days, it knows how to send chemical
information and it calculates that various organs in
the body are capable of receiving this chemical information.
Certainly it cannot be said that a cluster of cells
has this extraordinary information and devises a plan
on the basis of it. There is a supreme power which makes
these cells perform all their wondrous functions and
creates them in a way that enables them to do their
work. This power belongs to God, the only Ruler of the
heavens and the earth. As a proof to us of His eternal
power, God has inspired microscopic, unconscious, living
cells, in a way that the human mind could never comprehend,
to perform their complex work to perfection.
21. Eldra Pearl Solomon, Linda R. Berg,
Diana W. Martin, Claude V. Willee, Biology, 3rd ed.,
Saunders College Publishing, p. 1066
22. Geraldine Lux Flanagan, Beginning
Life, Dorling Kindersley, London, 1996, p. 28.