The Hindu Business Line : Call to set up human genetics commission

A GENETIC Privacy Act, which will ensure that employers are not permitted to collect or use genetic information for any purpose that is adverse to the interests of an employee is fast becoming a need in the country.

Serious concerns have already emerged about the possibility of discrimination based on a person's real or perceived genetic status, especially with modern biology giving exciting insights into the human being's genetic make-up.

Recommending this legislation, which would give adequate protection to genetic samples and disclosure of genetic information of a person, a trend setting international conference on `Impact of New Biology on Justice Delivery System', has also called for the setting up of a human genetics commission to provide technical and strategic advice about the current and emerging issues in human genetics.

Organised jointly by the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD) and the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar) University of Law, Hyderabad, the 3-day meet, which concluded on Sunday also wanted a National Genetics Policy and the necessary guidelines.

In a set of recommendations termed `The Hyderabad Declaration', the meeting of well-known jurists and scientists suggested the establishment of an Ethics Committee to assess the ethical, legal and social issues raised by research on human genome and the use of Deoxyribonucleacacid (DNA) databases.

It has also called for a ban on human reproductive cloning and went to the extent of suggesting that it be made a criminal offence. Similarly, a proper definition of the status of human embryo was needed to undertake research on embryonic cells.

Referring to the significant impact of DNA fingerprinting in crime detection, the conference called for suitable changes in the Code for Criminal Procedure 1973, Indian Penal Code 1860, Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and others to incorporate biological techniques for evidence.

In terms of ensuring quality control for DNA profiling and advise on the use of current and future DNA methods, the conference recommended that an independent body called the DNA Profiling Advisory Committee should take up this task.

With regard to intellectual property rights (IPR) issues, the Hyderabad Declaration wanted suitable amendments in the Patent Law to strike a balance between public and private interests in case of patents that assert property rights over genetic material.

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