title: [The legal limits to a change in the genetic heritage of human beings (I)].
abstract: Special laws on assisted reproduction techniques appear to expressly prohibit research and experimentation on human beings, particularly cloning. However, in some countries such laws have yet to be prepared, while in others they might be enacted in the future. This situation shows the urgent need for generally agreed legal principles in all legislation to limit the aforementioned practices and for general mechanisms to safeguard human genetic heritage. Against this background, the present article discusses two possible ways of limiting modifications to human genetic heritage, namely, the principle of respect for human dignity and the designation of this dignity as "a legal interest of humankind".
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Alicante, España.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Femenía López
mesh_terms: D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005838:Genotype; D006806:Human Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans