Ethical Issues in Genetics (Premarital Counseling, Genetic Testing, Genetic Engineering, Cloning and Stem Cell Therapy, DNA Fingerprinting)

Genetic disorders occur at a high frequency in several Islamic communities and impose heavy medical, financial, and emotional burdens. Genetic testing and screening raise some of the most difficult issues in the entire field of bioethics. The premarital examination for sickle cell, thalassemia, and G6PD to avoid these genetic diseases is carried out in a number of Islamic countries. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis is permissible in Islam provided the sperms and oocytes are from the husband and wife. Genetic engineering is allowed for disease prevention, treatment, or amelioration on the condition that they do not cause further damage. Human cloning is forbidden in Islam. The majority of Islamic jurors permit Human Embryonic Stem Cells research if its source is legitimate. DNA fingerprinting may be used in certain conditions.