“Human Fetal Development”
The tenth pre-session of the International Conference on Ethical Analyses of Fetus Advocates, titled “Human Fetal Development,” was held with a presentation by Professor Hassan Hassani Bafrani, full professor at Kashan University of Medical Sciences, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, in the Shahid Soleimani Hall of the Islamic Sciences and Culture Academy.
In this session, chaired by Dr. Ale Bouyeh, the chair first explained that the issue of abortion has so far been examined from various perspectives in the conference secretariat. He added that in today’s scientific session, Dr. Hassani Bafrani would address the stages of fetal development from the moment of fertilization to birth.
Professor Hassani Bafrani then presented a brief historical overview of embryology in ancient Greece and traditional Iranian medicine, as well as the precise and scientifically meaningful references in the Qur’an to the various stages of fetal formation in the mother’s womb. He then discussed the developments in modern embryology, explaining that until the 18th century, humans were unaware of the exact process of fertilization and the joint role of male sperm and the female ovum in the formation of the embryo. Even scholars such as Aristotle considered the man to be the main contributor to reproduction, viewing the woman merely as the nurturer of the embryo.
However, with advancements in medical science in the 17th century, and especially in the 18th century, for the first time genetic scientists—through the use of imaging devices and related technologies—discovered human DNA. By examining the complex and delicate processes occurring in the mother’s uterus, they recognized the joint contribution of both the male sperm and the female ovum in the formation of the embryonic cell. Today, with the possibility of recording detailed footage of every moment of fertilization and embryonic development, a clear and precise picture of embryology has been established.
According to Professor Hassani Baferani, scientific and laboratory findings have now made it clear that many miscarriages are not only caused by physical weakness or issues with the mother’s ovum; rather, the weakness or insufficient function of the father’s sperm in the various stages of embryonic development can also lead to repeated miscarriages and related complications.