Human rights in the era of emerging epigenome editing technologies
Ładowanie...
Data wydania
2025
Autorzy
Tytuł czasopisma
ISSN
1689-8052
eISSN
2451-0807
Tytuł tomu
ISBN
eISBN
Wydawca
Oficyna Wydawnicza AFM Uniwersytetu Andrzeja Frycza Modrzewskiego w Krakowie
Abstrakt
Genome and epigenome editing technologies have been hailed as the
most revolutionary discoveries in the natural and medical sciences.
These achievements were confirmed by the 2020 Nobel Prize in chemistry.
In contrast to genome editing, epigenetic regulation involves
controlling the particular expression of a gene by modifying chromatin
components without altering the genome nucleotide sequence.
Despite many promising results and applications, the effects of epigenome
editing interventions are not fully known. For example, potential
irrevocable and transgenerational events are possible and might
be heritable. Other concerns include the risk of using or misusing this
technology in agriculture and, the military as well as using it with or
without other treatments to alter human health and body.
Despite ongoing debate and studies on human genome editing, especially
germline, the discussion regarding human rights and the ethics
of epigenome editing for different applications is at a relatively early
stage and therefore sparse. Furthermore, in the context of possible
infringements on human dignity and integrity, critical consideration is
warranted as to whether the uses of these technologies are acceptable
or should be banned in some countries.
The first part of this article presents a short review of the epigenome
versus genome editing field. Particular emphasis is placed on
epigenome editing advances and threats, to draw open questions in
epigenetic human rights status and regulation. The second part presents
the analyses of international human rights law with other possible
normative law acts that can influence the status of epigenome
editing technologies, mostly in Europe. Their strengths and limitations
are highlighted, to present raised open questions and gaps in the last
part. The normative question is whether the existing international law
regulations are sufficient to address a wide number of implications
and to protect human rights in the face of this emerging technology.
Furthermore, some gaps and flaws are pointed out in current regulation
policy, as regards epigenetic editing. Accordingly, this study aims
to present further guidance and questions by exploring the implications
of the human rights framework for research and the application
of epigenome editing. This article then lays down the landscape in the
possible approaches of genome editing under human rights law – and
argues that new regulations or updated international standards are
needed, in combination with the institutional framework. Lastly, the
concluding section situates this study’s findings within the relevant
epigenome editing context.
Opis
Tematy
Słowa kluczowe
epigenetics, ethics, human rights, epigenome editing, genome editing, germline editing, CRISPR, human dignity, human health
Źródło
Studia Prawnicze. Rozprawy i materiały 2025, nr 1, s. 129-162.
