engleski

Legal and ethical issues considering the ancient DNA databases

This study analyses ethical, social, and other kinds of practical challenges related to research of ancient DNA (aDNA). aDNA research is useful for determining genetic and evolutionary relationships among the ancient human population from different geographic areas and different periods, as the various groups have specific variation in the exact sequence of nucleotides. Ancient DNA study can provide information on various aspects of the life of past populations such as information on human evolution, historical mysteries of specific individuals or groups who significantly impacted lives of societies they once lived in. Also, they can provide information on ancient diseases, the genesis of certain conditions and re-creation of the geographical direction of their occurrence and spreading, identifying descendants, migration patterns of past populations and ethnic groups. There is a multitude of ethical issues regarding aDNA research on human remains, especially taking into consideration the problems of determining descendants after such long periods. The impossibility of informed consent, identifying stakeholders in aDNA research, questions of intellectual property, culturally appropriate ancient DNA research, are just some of the issues. Data about the ancient human DNA can impact the modern populations, especially those of indigenous origin. Repatriation of human remains which belonged to specific cultural and ethnical groups, land claims of autochthonous communities based on genetical continuity, the profitability of genetic heritage, are some of the repercussions aDNA research has on the modern population.

Ancient DNA ; Databases ; Legal issues ; Ethical issues

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