Digital Commons Network^™

Necessary Subjects: The Need For A Mandatory National Donor Gamete Registry, Naomi R. Cahn

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This brief article calls for a mandatory national donor gamete registry. It first discusses the history of secrecy in the adoption context before turning to issues involving confidentiality in the donor context. After analyzing the issues involved in maintaining the secrecy of donor gametes, the article ultimately recommends the establishment of a national information registry, similar to that in place in numerous other countries, to keep track of children both through donor egg, embryo, and sperm, as well as the identities of the gamete providers. Participation in the registry would be mandatory for anyone involved in supplying donor gametes. Once …

Stifling Or Stimulating - The Role Of Gene Patents In Research And Genetic Testing, Lawrence M. Sung

Congressional Testimony

No abstract provided.

Protecting Workers From Genetic Discrimination, Karen H. Rothenberg

Congressional Testimony

No abstract provided.

Bad Nature, Bad Nurture, And Testimony Regarding Maoa And Slc6a4 Genotyping In Murder Trials, Nita A. Farahany, William Bernet, Cindy L. Vnencak-Jones, Stephen A. Montgomery

Faculty Scholarship

Recent research—in which subjects were studied longitudinally from childhood until adulthood—has started to clarify how a child’s environment and genetic makeup interact to create a violent adolescent or adult. For example, male subjects who were born with a particular allele of the monoamine oxidase A gene and also were maltreated as children had a much greater likelihood of manifesting violent antisocial behavior as adolescents and adults. Also, individuals who were born with particular alleles of the serotonin transporter gene and also experienced multiple stressful life events were more likely to manifest serious depression and suicidality. This research raises the question …

The Scarlet Gene: Behavioral Genetics, Criminal Law, And Racial And Ethnic Stigma, Karen H. Rothenberg, Alice Wang

Faculty Scholarship

Imagine that a scientist from the state university asks you and your family to participate in a study on a particular gene variant associated with alcoholism. The project focuses on your ethnic group, the Tracy Islanders, who have a higher incidence of alcoholism, as well as a higher incidence of the gene variant, than the general population. You will not be informed whether you have the gene variant, but your participation in the study might help scientists develop drugs to help individuals control their addiction to alcohol. You have a family history of alcoholism, and you are concerned that your …

To Err Is Human: Art Mix-Ups - A Labor-Based, Relational Proposal, Leslie Bender

College of Law - Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Revisiting The Legal Link Between Genetics And Crime, Deborah W. Denno

Faculty Scholarship

Unwarranted constraints on the admissibility of genetics evidence in death penalty cases can undercut some defendants' efforts to fight their executions. For example, genetics evidence can help validate some traditionally accepted mitigating factors (such as certain psychiatric or behavioral disorders) that can otherwise be difficult for defendants to prove. By imposing unreasonable limitations on genetics arguments, the criminal justice system may be undermining the very principles and progressive thinking the cap on genetics evidence was originally intended to achieve. Part II of this article briefly reviews the facts and legal arguments in Mobley v. State. Part III addresses the primary …

Behavioral Genetics And Crime, In Context, Owen D. Jones

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

This Article provides an introduction to some of the key issues at the intersection of behavioral genetics and crime.

It provides, among other things, an overview of the emerging points of consensus, scientifically, on what behavioral genetics can and cannot tell us about criminal behavior. It also discusses a variety of important implications (as well as complexities) of attempting to use insights of behavioral genetics in legal contexts.

Behavioural Genetics In Criminal Cases: Past, Present And Future, Nita A. Farahany, William Bernet

Faculty Scholarship

Researchers studying human behavioral genetics have made significant scientific progress in enhancing our understanding of the relative contributions of genetics and the environment in observed variations in human behavior. Quickly outpacing the advances in the science are its applications in the criminal justice system. Already, human behavioral genetics research has been introduced in the U.S. criminal justice system, and its use will only become more prevalent. This essay discusses the recent historical use of behavioral genetics in criminal cases, recent advances in two gene variants of particular interest in the criminal law, MAOA and SLC6A4, the recent expert testimony on …

When Should Judges Admit Or Compel Genetic Tests?, Diane E. Hoffmann, Karen H. Rothenberg

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Day 2: Thursday, 18 August 2005: Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, Bob Muth, Tom Pitts, Dan Luecke

Endangered Species Act Congressional Field Tour (August 17-19)

58 pages (includes illustrations and maps).

Contains references.

Genetic Enhancement: Plan Now To Act Later, Maxwell J. Mehlman

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

From Genes, Marriage And Money To Nurture: Redefining Fatherhood, Nancy E. Dowd

UF Law Faculty Publications

Genes should not define fatherhood. This is wrong for men, and wrong for children. Genes define identity, but that link should be separated from the obligations and rights of parenthood. Specifically, I argue that fatherhood should be defined by doing (action) instead of being (status), with the critical component being acts of nurturing. In this essay I define in more detail this concept of fatherhood and its characteristics; discuss the consequences related to genetic ties; and consider the policy implications of defining fatherhood around nurture when genetic ties can be established for all children. It is critical throughout to remain …

Three Legal Frameworks For Regulating Genetic Technology, Wilson R. Huhn

Akron Law Faculty Publications

The Genetic Age promises another exponential increase in human knowledge and potential. ... This article describes three frameworks the law uses to regulate genetic technology: (1) Individual Rights and Duties; (2) Scientific Regulation by Administrative Agencies; and (3) Legislative Preemption. ... This framework involves the lowest level of government oversight over genetic technology. ... At present, the FDA and National Institutes of Health (NIH) administer regulatory control of genetic technology as applied to human beings, but the jurisdiction of these agencies is limited. ... Attorney Judith Cregan has recorded a number of "serious problems" with FDA and NIH regulation of …

Navigating Uncharted Waters: Intellectual Property Rights Surrounding Genomics Research & Development Information, Lawrence M. Sung

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

What Makes Genetic Discrimination Exceptional?, Deborah Hellman

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Reaching Through The Genome, Rebecca S. Eisenberg

Book Chapters

The past two decades have been a period of rapid evolution in the science of biotechnology and therefore in patent strategies, if not in patent law itself. Patent law takes a long time to catch up with science, and commentators take a long time to catch up with the law, but patent lawyers don’t have that luxury. They have to keep ahead of the game, figuring out claiming strategies that allow their clients to capture the value of future discoveries. I want to discuss some of these strategies today.

Law, Policy, And Market Implications Of Genetic Profiling In Drug Development, Michael J. Malinowski

Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

The Unblazed Trail: Bioinformatics And The Protection Of Genetic Knowledge, Lawrence M. Sung

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Patents In Exploiting The Genome, Rebecca S. Eisenberg

Book Chapters

The sequencing of the human genome is a great scientific accomplishment that opens the door to further scientific inquiry of a sort that would otherwise be impossible. In addition to being passionately interested in the patent issues this research presents, as a legal scholar I have a long-standing interest in the role of intellectual property in interactions between the public and private senators and between universities and private firms in research science, with a focus on biomedial research. However, although the Human Genome Project has provided a rich terrain for exploring these issues, I am puzzled that intellectual property issues …

Foreword: Phase Ii Of The Genetics Revolution: Sophisticated Issues For Home And Abroad, Frances H. Miller

Faculty Scholarship

The distinguished health law and policy scholars we invite to contribute to the American Journal of Law & Medicine's annual symposium issue are given carte blanche to write about any aspect of the designated topic that appeals to them. The authors in this year's genetics symposium, The Genetic Revolution: Conflicts, Challenges and Conundra, are already well known for their work in the field-in fact three of them have just co-authored the only casebook specifically dedicated to the law, policy and ethics of geneticsl-and we deliberately asked them for relatively short pieces on the theory that taken together their articles would …

Parenthood, Genes, And Gametes: The Family Law And Trusts And Estates Perspectives, Naomi R. Cahn

GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works

This Article proposes a solution to resolve the legal issues that arise from the disposition of eggs, zygotes, and sperm upon divorce or death. I address two overlapping issues in family law and trusts and estates law: (1) whether the partner seeking procreation may use gametic material over the objections of the other partner and (2) how should the use of donated, willed, or marital gametic material affect the legal determination of parenthood?

In family law cases, courts generally rule in favor of the person seeking to avoid procreation, regardless of any evidence as to the intent of the parties. …

Consent To The Use Of Stored Dna For Genetics Research: A Survey Of Attitudes In The Jewish Population, Marc D. Schwartz, Karen H. Rothenberg, Linda Joseph, Judith Benkendorf, Caryn Lerman

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Potential For Discrimination In Health Insurance Based On Predictive Genetic Tests, Karen H. Rothenberg

Congressional Testimony

No abstract provided.

Fashionable Genetic Explanations In The Courtroom: Litigating Personal Injuries Based On Genetic Risk, Jennifer Wriggins

Faculty Publications

New developments in molecular genetics hold much promise for society. Gene therapy research is underway with the aim of helping to fight, and perhaps even eliminate some diseases. DNA data can be used as evidence to help free innocent people and put guilty ones in jail. Agricultural biotechnology can make crops and pesticides more productive. And cloning may offer exciting potential. There is little doubt that further· developments in the areas of genetics and biotechnology will change our lives in unanticipated ways.

Despite the potential benefits to society, there exist valid and serious I concerns about the potential for misuse …

Rules For Research On Human Genetic Variation: Lessons From Iceland, George J. Annas

Faculty Scholarship

Research on genetic variation aims to understand how genes function and requires the comparison of DNA samples from groups of individuals to identify variations that might have importance for health or disease. This work is easier if the samples are linked to accurate medical records and genealogic information. Iceland has medical records for all its citizens going back to World War I and detailed genealogic information going back even further. Because Iceland's small population (270,000) has long been isolated and homogeneous, it is thought by many to be an ideal place to search for disease-related genes. Journalists have cavalierly labeled …

Privacy In Genetics Research, Barbara Fuller, Mary Jo Ellis Kahn, P. A. Barr, L. Biesecker, E. Crowley, J. Garber, M. K. Mansoura, Patricia Murphy, J. Murray, J. Phillips, Karen H. Rothenberg, Mark Rothstein, J. Stopfer, Gary Swergold, B. Weber, Francis Collins, Kathy Hudson

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Misperception That Bioethics And The Law Lag Behind Advances In Biotechnology, David Orentlicher

Scholarly Works

No abstract provided.

Genetic Testing, Genetic Medicine, And Managed Care, Mark A. Rothstein, Sharona Hoffman

Faculty Publications

As modern human genetics moves from the research setting to the clinical setting, it will encounter the managed care system. Issues of cost, access, and quality of care will affect the availability and nature of genetic testing, genetic counseling, and genetic therapies. This articles explores such issues as professional education, coverage of genetic services, privacy and confidentiality, and liability. It concludes with a series of recommendations for the practice of genetic medicine in the age of managed care.

Cancer Genetic Susceptibility Testing: Ethical And Policy Implications For Future Research And Clinical Practice, Benjamin S. Wilfond, Karen H. Rothenberg, Elizabeth J. Thomson, Caryn Lerman

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.