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Originally posted by: Warbler
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Originally posted by: JediSage

The lack of certain body parts would not invalidate the fact that at some point the child would manifest these parts, or that the child is alive.

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but it might invalidate the fact the the fetus is a child, depending apon your point of view.

No, life is life. There's no point of view involved. Regardless of whether or not someone considers the child alive, life is present (again, there isn't a reputable scientist/doctor on the planet would disagree with this). The child does not spontaneously change species in the middle of it's growth.

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Originally posted by: JediSage

A physical body, in addition to the DNA, chromosones, ability to grow, etc is enough to warrant protection, if anything.

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that is your opinion. not everyone would agree.

I'm not sure what it would take besides what I stated above to grant the status of life to the child. If we fail to protect life, ESPECIALLY the defenseless, we're all doomed.

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would the devoloping cells immediately after conception be regarded as having a physical body?

If it's not physical, what is it?

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does a frozen embryo have the ability to grow?

A frozen embryo is by definition not experiencing the natural growth process. Would the embryo grow if it were allowed to continue inside the womb?