embryonic, adj.

1. Pertaining to, or having the character of, an embryo.
Unlike the noun, embryo, embryonic refers to the characteristics, the properties, and resemblances to an embryo.Embryonic is used commonly to describe a part of an embryo, such as the embryonic stem cells and embryonic development, which correspond to the stem cells of the embryo and the development of the embryo, respectively.

The boundary that marks the signification of embryonic cells to life has increasing become a topic of debate in scientific and ethical grounds. Therapeutic cloning uses the injection of an adult cell nucleus of a patient to an empty donated egg to cultivate the desired tissue or organ for transplantation. This technology utilizes the versatility of embryonic state because the newly grown tissue or organ derives from an egg in its embryonic state. The cells generated from an embryonic state are known as embryonic stem cells, which at early stages of development, are capable of differentiating into any cell type. Reproductive cloning utilizes much of the same technique and technology, except that a new organism results from the implantation of the cloned embryo in the uterus, whereas the new cells result from the cultivation of the cloned embryo in a culture in therapeutic cloning. Here, arises the debate on cloning for it is precisely because both methods use embryonic cells that could potentially grow to an entire organism, thus a new life, that demands evaluation of morality of cloning. While advocates of therapeutic cloning accentuate that the method is used solely in medical research to produce healthy and body-accepting cells, those supporting reproductive cloning push for pro-choice and the use of such technique to replace misfortunes of loss in families. Still, critics of cloning argue that the state of scientific research is still too early to promise the merit of therapeutic cloning and ensure safety of reproductive cloning. Furthermore, ethical concerns derive from the questioning of life of the embryo. If the embryo is living, and that embryonic cells are of the embryo, then one would assume that the use of such cells denies of existence of life. Yet, such conclusion is challenged by the low rate of cloned embryos thatare able to develop into a normal organism.

2. fig. immature, undeveloped.
Embryonic has also come to describe the preliminary state, one that is lacking maturity, completion, and wholeness. This figurative definition of embryonic reflects the controversy of cloning. Because embryonic is defined as undeveloped, in terms of embryo development, supporters of cloning can argue that cloned embryos are permanently limited to underdevelopment due to the potential abnormalities. Thus, cloning is not the culprit for creating a limitation that is inherent to the embryo. By the same token, critics can emphasize that embryonic labels a notion of unrealized potential in the cells, tissues, or anything related to the embryo. From this aspect of the argument, one can interpret that to be “immature” signifies precedence to “mature,” may it be the actualization of life. Hence, this interpretation would lay responsibility on cloning in terminating the eventual existence of a complete, living organism.

glossary