Overview

This course explores how society developed systems of civil obligation and criminal deterrence, examining what happens to hallowed concepts of privacy, confidentiality, property, and equality when they collide with 21st-century biotechnologies riding the crest of the genetics wave. In the final module, the course examines how traditional property law concepts apply to body parts and genetic innovations, investigating patent law challenges and current controversies around organ trade, cosmetic surgery, and gamete retention. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Explain how legal principles apply to genetic contexts - Describe the challenges that arise when law meets rapidly advancing genetic technologies - Identify key legal protections for genetic information and privacy - Understand the basic legal principles governing genetic materials and intellectual property The course is open to everyone, and you don’t need any previous knowledge or experience of the subject to attend.

Syllabus

What is law?

In this course we will explore how society developed systems of civil obligation and criminal deterrence. As we make our way through concepts of privacy, confidentiality, property and equality, we will ask what happens to these hallowed concepts when they come up against 21st-century biotechnologies riding the crest of the genetics wave. In module 1, you will gain an understanding of where law comes from, its primary objectives in maintaining civic society, why it is important to remember that some laws only govern transactions between individuals, others regulate the relations between the individual and the state, and completely different laws apply between nations.

Law and technology

Law evolves organically and politically and usually slowly. This is in contrast to technology which is a fast response to crisis and available tools and data. In this module, we look at how quickly the latter outruns the former, and how “knee jerk” legal reactions to runaway innovations can be as damaging as they are helpful, understanding that law is useless unless enforceable, and that there is no such thing as a global court/police force to ensure that international ethical rules are upheld.

Law and genetic information

In this module, we will take a look at understanding how law categorises and seeks to protect personal information. We will look at the intersection of regulation and genetics. This session will explore the law of privacy, anonymity, and medical confidentiality, including doctors’ liability.

Genetic discrimination

In this module, will cover what "discrimination" is in law, and how societies seek to control it via common law, statute and international law. We will look at the state’s interest in genetic information and a case study on the liability of local authorities and pre-adoption genetic testing.

Body parts and patents

In this module, we'll explore how law developed out of property rights; types of property recognised by all legal systems. This session will investigate the notion of proprietary interests in biological entities in the UK and other common law systems. We will then explore the roots of patent law and the challenges presented to intellectual property regulators by genetic technology.