Turning back time: los relojes epigenéticos desde la perspectiva de la bioética y de los derechos humanos

Simona Fanni

doi:10.12795/IESTSCIENTIA.2022.i02.02

Authors

Simona Fanni University of Cagliari https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6865-6530

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12795/IESTSCIENTIA.2022.i02.02

Keywords:

Epigenetic clocks, Human dignity, Genetic identity and integrity, Right to health, Right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress

Abstract

Epigenetic clocks are molecular markers that predict, quite precisely, biological age as wells as age-related diseases and mortality risk. On the one hand, they represent promising diagnostic tools, that have the potentiality to innovate our therapeutic responses to such serious and common conditions as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer. On the other hand, epigenetic clocks raise important legal issues that relate to human dignity, genetic identity and integrity, the right to health and the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress. This study aims at analyzing these questions from the perspective of bioethics and international human rights law, with the purpose of suggesting several viable solutions for grappling with the challenges posed by epigenetic clocks, by also emphasizing the consistency with the principle of human dignity.

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Turning back time: epigenetic clocks from the perspective of bioethics and international human rights law

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