Synthetic human embryos, embryo models and embryo-like structures in Islam

• Main Authors: Muhsin, Sayyed Mohamed, Abdul Jalil, Mohd. Noh, Al-Akiti, Muhammad Ayman, Duriat, Fazrihan, Ahmad, Mohd Faizal, Chin, Alexis Heng Boon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 2024
• Subjects: BP1 Islam; KBP Islamic Law; KBP1 Islamic law.Shariah.Fiqh; KBP490 Furūʻ al-fiqh. Substantive law. Branches of law.; R Medicine (General); RA Public aspects of medicine; RA1001 Forensic Medicine. Medical jurisprudence. Legal medicine
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/114485/19/114485_Synthetic%20human%20embryos%2C%20embryo%20models.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/114485/; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14746700.2024.2399902
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

A major breakthrough in developmental biology is the ex vivo generation of synthetic human embryos from stem cells. A comprehensive, in-depth bioethical analysis from a Sunni Islamic perspective reveals that the reproductive applications of synthetic human embryos contravene Islamic precepts of preserving lineage integrity (Hifz al-Nasl) due to disruption and confusion of kinship and familial relationships, similar to human cloning with somatic cell nuclear transfer. However, their non-reproductive applications in generating replacement tissues/organs, serving as in vitro experimental models of human development and disease, and testing platforms for evaluating pharmaceuticals and biomedical devices appear to align with Islamic principles.