For every human being, everything begins from the very moment their parents, in a magnificent act of love, give themselves to each other, offering a “synthesis of their being” to the beloved, out of love. The intimate union of both, with the consequent union of their germ cells, can lead to the creation of a  being so perfect and wondrous  in its potential,  unique  on planet Earth.  Through the love of parents, each  one receives  the greatest possible gift : life. A precious gift, something unimaginable.

This must be protected and safeguarded with great care… because of the dignity of each person, created for something great, with longings for infinity within.

The potential for that being is present from the very moment of conception :  a whole process of development and growth unfolds. It is like a  concentrated energy  that tends to expand and perfect that person, making them more complete, while also making them unique in their characteristics. Authentically human.

Just as conception  requires the love of parents,  a loving and nurturing environment, for development and growth, healthy development is impossible. Without this, a child  unfolds their abilities and  realizes their full potential. This includes not only biological development, with cell growth and differentiation, and the development of the body, brain, and other organs, but also psychological, emotional, and spiritual development, encompassing all the higher faculties at the base of the brain, such as intelligence, will, imagination and creativity, memory and learning—all essential to a person.

Just like  freedom:  its “root” faculty, as Carlos Cardona calls it, essential to human beings, which makes everything else possible. It is a long process that takes many years, due to its complexity, but it is a true marvel.

Therefore, to achieve the  harmonious development of each child , we must attend to all their faculties: intelligence and thought, free will, through training in small, everyday things, affection and feelings, with a warm environment, and spirituality, which integrates and elevates these capacities. And all of this anchored in  the heart , the “seat” of the person. 

In these early stages, affection plays a crucial role: every child  needs to feel welcomed and deeply loved  to develop healthily. This unlocks the ” anti- stress genes ,”  and the child feels comfortable in this environment filled with their parents’ love and trust. Then they can unleash their potential and develop and learn in all areas.

To achieve this, it’s helpful to consider the various personal spheres… which can be summarized within the  “ frameworks of development.”  All are important in the holistic development of each person, and we must address them all harmoniously to foster a healthy and well-rounded personality, starting from one’s own qualities and characteristics. In this way, individuals can build themselves up, set valuable and noble goals, and  navigate their lives  with consideration for others, because  our hearts,  and indeed our entire being,  are designed to love,  and in this love, each person finds fulfillment, their best self, and therefore,  happiness.

As Hannah Arendt pointed out,  when a child is born, humanity begins anew…  Someone different and original, unique, with a yearning for beauty and great transformative potential, capable of  loving.  The ultimate goal of humankind, created precisely to love.

A little medicine

Thanks to the unconditional love of parents, when an egg is fertilized by a sperm, with the egg’s preparation and an incredible flash of light,  a new being is formed.  It is no longer just cells from the father and mother, nor a new “tissue” or cluster of cells, but a  new person,  with a vast and almost infinite sea of ​​possibilities. And it is called  a ” zygote.”  Something very precious in itself.

And it’s interesting, because it has been observed that  the  egg releases chemical substances that attract  certain specific sperm. In this way, it  selects  those it believes are best suited for that egg, based on optimal histocompatibility with its own genetic makeup.

This stage of human life is characterized by the most rapid growth. The developing embryo divides into two cells, then four, then eight, and so on exponentially. It is one of the most  critical periods for survival.  A special, nutrient-rich environment is essential for its development and subsequent implantation in the mother’s uterus. This implantation occurs 4-7 days after fertilization. At this stage, it is called an  ” embryo.”  Later, after the ninth week, it is called a  “fetus.”  At this stage, it differentiates into male or female, depending on whether its genetic makeup is XY or XX.

From the moment of conception , the entire genetic makeup responsible for the formation of that person is present  . Specifically , it’s found in the chromosomes of each cell. Therein lies the essence of that person: it simply needs to unfold that marvel and grow. 

Regarding the issue of conception, when it seems impossible, it’s worth highlighting  NaProTechnology , perhaps not widely known, which is a medical aid that respects the natural process of procreation. It stands for “natural procreative technology  . ” Methods  for  recognizing fertile periods  and advances in procreative medicine make it possible to diagnose many  problems that can cause infertility . It focuses on identifying the causes and attempting to heal them, not on alleviating symptoms or suppressing natural cycles. And its etiological treatment, that is, addressing the root cause, helps to facilitate or enable conception.

For example, it frequently occurs in cases of polycystic ovary syndrome, oligospermia, tubal infections, and other problems with blocked fallopian tubes, including infertility due to stress or anxiety in the early stages of pregnancy. This new technique achieves many benefits, first by healing,  without altering the biological or anthropological nature of   sexual intimacy  and fertilization,  in that intimate embrace of parents in which a new life can be conceived: a human being, an incredible and surprising gift, not a “right” that we have, with their unique qualities and talents, to accept.

Moreover, each conception and subsequent birth leaves a profound mark on the parents and the entire family. It is the greatest, most wonderful, and most novel thing that can happen on the planet. Something almost miraculous that leaves us astonished, speechless. And sometimes we become accustomed to such grandeur …  As G.K. Chesterton points out,  “In every child, all things in the world are made anew , and the universe is put to the test anew.”

A bit of genetics…

This new, marvelous being contains  23 pairs of chromosomes:  all of that person’s genetic material. Exactly half of that genetic material comes from the mother, and the other half from the father. All of its characteristics and possibilities are found within those 46 chromosomes. And among them is its sex: XX chromosomes, if it is a female, or XY chromosomes, if it is a male. And all the cells of the body, even the brain cells, carry this differentiated, that is, specific, genetic material. Not just the sex organs, as is sometimes believed.

Chromosomes are made up of  double strands of DNA , forming helices, which in turn are composed of countless nucleotide bases. These bases contain the genes that control an individual’s entire being and make them unique. A gene is the basic unit of  genetic information .  Whether or not genes are expressed in each person depends on various factors .

This whole topic was investigated by the  “father” of the Human Genome Project : Dr. Francis Collins, who dedicated many years to leading this project: between 1990 and 2003. The aim was to understand the inextricable workings of genes.

He was an atheist, and he says he began to investigate because it seemed strange to him that intelligent people believed in God. Then, investigating and analyzing the tiny yet perfectly organized DNA bases, he realized, to his dismay, that atheism was the least rational thing of all. He had to be wrong. And faced with his own discoveries, with simplicity and humility, he went from the most blind atheism to believing in a creator God—intelligent, wise, and magnanimous.

He perceives that ” science  is nothing more than humanity  trying to understand the greatness of God’s design.” 

Scientific research helps him see more clearly, revealing the minute beauty and complexity, full of order and perfection, contained in each cell and in the nuclear genetic material of the human being. Science draws him closer to God and inevitably leads him there. He realizes that  creation is “the book of God’s works” …

That genetic material of each human being is embodied in  a  personal, unique genotype and phenotype in each new person who comes into this world, the fruit of that incredible and life-giving gift of love.

A person’s phenotype   refers to more visible characteristics, such as their shape, skin color, hair color, eye color, etc. The  genotype is  something deeper, such as genetic determinations: blood type, inherited temperament traits, or psychological personality characteristics such as a tendency towards anxiety, nervousness, calmness, empathy, action, optimism, etc.

All of this interacts with the  environment in which a human being develops, potentially affecting them to varying degrees depending on environmental circumstances and the individual’s genetic makeup  and capabilities. This is called  epigenetics , or genetic expression in response to these variables, as well as the  individual’s lifestyle  . 

Genetic material is   at the base of that being’s life: in its growth and  development, in its cardiac and respiratory functions, in the immune system, nervous system and brain, stratum of so many higher capacities…, in the senses and psychological and temperamental  traits, from which to build its personality.

The grandeur of life, along with its fragility,  predisposes the heart to care,  affection, and tenderness. In this way, we prepare a suitable environment where a child can grow and develop their full potential, precisely in the light of the  mutual affection of their parents, the architects of their good character and self-esteem. Such a delicate marvel to nurture and protect with tenderness… Feeling loved is the driving force of all human development. 

However,  genes  are not  as decisive  as once believed, as many factors interact with them. Furthermore, genes are not “selfish,” as   some populist authors claimed, but rather have been shown to operate according to three principles:  communication , cooperation with others, and  creativity.  Human beings are genuinely the locus of creativity and selfless help for others. And sometimes we forget that…

This connection to genes has been investigated by Professor Joachim Bauer through his research on the  brain’s motivational system , which secretes neuroplastic messenger substances and is focused on  positive personal relationships  : with family, friends, and so on. In other words, it seeks affectionate relationships with others, which makes the  brain  work enthusiastically and at its best. And  it facilitates happiness  precisely within these bonds and positive personal relationships. The entire brain, not just genes, encourages us and provides comfort through good relationships, even when we do something selfless for others. It is human nature, so well designed by the “Inventor” of love, as C.S. Lewis points out.