Genetics in the Middle East: Haram or Halal? Useful or Useless?
 

Introduction -  Religious Aspects - Economic Benefits of Genetics - Social and Medical Benefits - Conclusion - Works Cited
 

           Isn't it weird how genetics is one of the millions of branches of science that has impacts that can affect millions of people?  Genetics hasn’t established a firm ground in the nations of the Middle East due to the fact of their rate of development compared to America and Europe.  In America and Europe, there are many developed nations compared to the nations of the Middle East.  The "West" is advanced in technological, economical, and scientific fields compared to the Arab nations.  Due to the Middle East's lack of advancement in the fields of technology and science, genetics hasn’t established a firm platform to spread.  There are some other roadblocks that stop genetics from being wide-spread in the Middle East.  Within many Islamic and Arab nations there is heating debate over genetics.  Usually when a new issue arises in any nation of the world, there isn’t one unified stance over the subject.  This can also be applied to genetics. 
 

Genetics in the Middle East has also created a rift between the people.  There are some people who want genetics to have a larger role in their lives, while there are other people who oppose it.  The main roadblock that prevents genetics to keep moving in the Middle East is religion.  In the Middle East, Islam is the dominant religion and plays an important role in the laws of nations and the lives of the people.  Although there is one major religion, each group has a different interpretation of the Quran, which leads to conflicting opinions about genetics.  The Middle East has a lot of problems that create a call of help for genetics.  In many Arab nations, their economies are not very strong compared to American and European economies.  If genetics was introduced to these Arab nations, it can open up gateways for more jobs and higher employments for the people.  Living in an Arab nation, a person can notice that health problems within these nations are also high.  Many people suffer from hereditary diseases like obesity and diabetes.  In the Middle East, many members of a family usually get married to their cousins or relatives.  This practice of marrying relatives isn’t outlawed.  When the relative couple gets children, genetic disorders have a high possibility to occur.  If genetics was established well within the Middle East, scientists will be able to remove any genes that can cause a genetic disorder in the baby or ensure that the baby being born is healthy and disease-free.    Despite the Middle East's varying Islamic opinions about genetics, if this advanced science was adopted and spread within the region, many nations can benefit greatly economically, medically, and socially.