Conception sometimes results in products that are not capable of devel-oping into an embryo and fetus. This group, designated with the term gesta-tional trophoblastic neoplasia, comprises the benign hydatidiform mole, theinvasive mole (chorioadenoma destruens) and the frankly malignant vari-ety, choriocarcinoma. Another type of atypical oocyte activation occurs inparthenogenesis. In the human, two types of tumors, dermoid cysts andteratomas, can result from this process. The authors of this paper aim to elu-cidate the mechanisms how these abnormal growths ensue and provide ex-planations why they cannot be regarded as human individuals or humanbeings. They conclude that it is not the exact number of chromosomes that isrequired for a form of human life to become a human being but rather thebiparental origin of the chromosome set.
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