Zusammenfassung
As the new Gene-Editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 and research on its medical application are rapidly developing, ethical or legal issues are being actively discussed in Korea. Especially, Korean researchers recently conducted a genetically modified cell therapy study, which differentiated pluripotent stem cells of hemophilia patients into hepatocytes by reprogramming the hemophiliac somatic cells and transplanting these hepatocytes into the patient’s liver. With respect to this type of research, some in Korea have voiced their concerns that “there is a possibility that research with little consciousness of ethics will proceed because it is possible for anyone to use simple molecular biological knowledge.” Beyond the ethical implications, there is a serious need to discuss the social impact of gene editing technology and its normative acceptability. In particular, this discussion should consider the use of germline cells or human embryos to create a so-called Designer Baby as this use of science raises eugenic concerns. In this context, it appears that genetic intervention on germline cells ignores the international consensus provided in Article 16 of the UNESCO Declaration on Biosafety and Human Rights (2005), which stipulates that, in the operation of technology, consideration should be given to the impact on the genetic composition of future generations.
This article is a slightly modified and supplemented version of a research paper titled ‘Gene-Editing: Interpretation of Current Law and Legal Policy’, which was published in the journal ‘Development & Reproduction’ (2017; 21(3): 343–349) with the support of Sungshin Women’s University. Particularly, Korean law is introduced in more detail in this modified article.
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Notes
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Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2015).
- 2.
Jun (2016), p. 90.
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Jun (2016), p. 91.
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Ministry of Science, Future Planning (2015), p. 10.
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Ministry of Science, Future Planning (2015), p. 4.
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Kim et al. (2014), p. 128.
- 7.
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Biosafety (2015), p. 3.
- 8.
Park und Ryoo (2016), p. 38.
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Park und Ryoo (2016), p. 49.
- 11.
Lanphier et al. (2015).
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Review on a revision draft of BioAct (Draft Nr.15728, Nr. 17197), 2015.11., pp. 13–14.
References
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Kim HC, Go BJ, Park JS, Choi KS (2014) Bioethics law. Pakyoungsa Press, p 128
Kim HN, Kim SH, Kim SY (2015) Issues of genetic modification in human embryo and its future orientation. Korean J Med Law 23(2):218
Lanphier E, Urnov F, Haecker SE, Wener M, Smolenski J (2015) Don’t edit the human germ line. Available via http://www.nature.com/news/don-t-edit-the-human-germ-line-1.17111. Accessed 19 Feb 2019
Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2015) Technology assessment report (Research report 2016-048) – vol 1. Gene Scissor Technology, p 73
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Biosafety (2015) 16(2): 3
Park DW, Ryoo HS (2016) Regulatory framework for gene therapy on human embryos in response to CRISPR-Cas9. J Korean Bioeth Assoc 17(1):38
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Kim, NK. (2020). Legal Regulation of Gene Technology in Korea. In: Taupitz, J., Deuring, S. (eds) Rechtliche Aspekte der Genom-Editierung an der menschlichen Keimbahn . Veröffentlichungen des Instituts für Deutsches, Europäisches und Internationales Medizinrecht, Gesundheitsrecht und Bioethik der Universitäten Heidelberg und Mannheim, vol 47. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-59028-7_19
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