University of Technology Sydney

76030 Genetics and the Law

6cp
Requisite(s): 70311 Torts
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 78104 Genetics and the Law AND 78105 Genetics and the Law

Description

This subject examines the scope and limitations of existing regulation of genetic technologies with respect to humans. It also considers recent scientific and technological innovations in the area of human genetics and the role and effectiveness of law in managing these new developments. The role of law as a means to control both the development of new genetic technologies and the utilisation of existing technologies is also evaluated. This includes a specific focus on individual decision-making versus responsibility for genetic risk, individual versus group rights, genetic privacy, genetic discrimination, reproductive autonomy, and ownership and control of genetic information and research developments. Specific issues covered include regulatory limits on the use of genetic screening of adults, children and newborns; prenatal genetic testing and genetic testing of adults and children; the regulation of genetic registers, protecting genetic information privacy and the problem of familial information; measures to control genetic discrimination in employment and insurance; the regulation of genetic research through the NHMRC guidelines and other means; the regulation of genetics in medical research including gene therapy, inheritable genetic modification, stem cell research and human somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning technologies); and the establishment of biobanks and the concept of genomic property.


Detailed subject description.

Access conditions

Note: The requisite information presented in this subject description covers only academic requisites. Full details of all enforced rules, covering both academic and admission requisites, are available at access conditions and My Student Admin.