Human rights: in between bioethics and genetics

Abstract

The evolution of human genetics, from the fifties onwards, acted as a trigger for multiple fields, especially for those dealing with bioethics and law. Many of the advances accomplished may touch human dignity and, at the same time, they impel the creation of new human rights.

On the basis of these premises the author analyses the most significant impacts of the new genetics upon society: the danger of a new eugenism, genetic discrimination, manipulation of genetic information, problems derived from the investigation on the genome, the appropriation of human genetic material; indicating, in conclusion some paths to follow.