Biotechnology, Human Dignity and the Human Genome

The contribution investigates the international legal regulation of bioethics, with particular emphasis on the human genome and its economic and /or scientific exploitation. In this respect, the human genome is not only considered as the ‘property’ of the single person concerned, but also in its characterization of ‘heritage of humanity’. A number of ethical issues – related to the possible uses of the human genome – are also examined, including identification of individuals, human cloning, eugenics and others. Furthermore, a section of the contribution is dedicated to more technical legal issues, i.e. transplantation of human organs and tissues, genetically-based discrimination, free and informed consent, privacy and confidentiality, right to information or to have no information, social inequality as well as intellectual property rights. In conclusion, the author stresses that, in whatever application of bioethics, human dignity remain the primary and foremost value to be realized.