FROM THE BODY TO THE GENOME: BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE APPREHENSION OF THE HUMAN PERSON

Abstract

The access to genes made possible by the scientific progress of the 20th century has had consequences for the legal apprehension of the human person. Firstly, it has conferred a collective dimension on the individual whose genome is protected as the heritage of humanity. The genetic heritage is thus protected not only to respect the physical integrity of the human person, but also the integrity of the entire human species. Secondly, this has allowed access to information on the individual that is intimate. Genetic data is used for identification purposes in civil, criminal or even medical matters. Thus, the human person and his genetic characteristics are apprehended both collectively and individually.