The role of zygotic genome activation in genetic−related reproductive medicine: Technological perspective, religious and bioethical concerns, challenges and benefits

•Religious scholars take a generally favorable position toward human genome editing research, and Gulf countries have launched several scientific efforts on the topic, especially gene editing in assisted reproductive technology (ART).•Recent improvements with regard to human genetic and reproduction techniques are among the recent discoveries that are disrupting the balance of life's spiritual and material components.•The Islamic stance on abortion, in vitro fertilization, genetic engineering, cloning, and stem cell research, especially ZGA.•We identified many likely distinct transcriptional activities characterizing the zygotic genome at ZGA onset.•Epigenetic reprogramming promotes major ZGA in various embryos. Zygotic Genome Activation (ZGA) is a crucial developmental milestone in early embryogenesis, marking the transition from maternal to embryonic control of development. This process, which varies in timing across species, involves the activation of the embryonic genome, paving the way for subsequent cell differentiation and organismal development. Recent advances in genomics and reproductive medicine have highlighted the potential of ZGA in the realm of genetic screening, providing a window into the genetic integrity of the developing embryo at its earliest stages. The intersection of ZGA and genetic screening primarily emerges in the context of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). These techniques, often employed during assisted reproductive technologies, aim to detect potential genetic abnormalities or chromosomal imbalances before embryo implantation. Given that ZGA represents the onset of embryonic gene expression, understanding its intricacies can significantly enhance the accuracy and predictive power of these screening processes. With the advent of next-generation sequencing and other high-throughput genomic techniques, detailed mapping of the transcriptomic changes during ZGA has become feasible. Such advancements have deepened our insights into the dynamics of early embryonic development and the onset of genetic disorders. As our knowledge in this realm expands, it promises to revolutionize our capabilities in detecting, understanding, and potentially rectifying genetic anomalies at the earliest stages of human life, thereby optimizing reproductive outcomes.