The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
Male or female whose genes provide the genetic makeup of a child.
The definition of the term biological parent has become more complex as medical technology has expanded the parameters of the human reproductive process. Conception of a human fetus may be accomplished through sexual intercourse between the male and female parents, through artificial insemination, or through in vitro fertilization.
The term biological parent is typically used only when a child has more than one set of parents, to distinguish between those who have custody of the child—such as adoptive parents, foster parents, or stepparents—and those who contributed the genetic makeup of the child. The term is legally significant under laws enacted in some states to provide definitions and standards for issues of parentage, especially in those cases involving a paternity suit.