Policy landscapes on human genome editing: a perspective from Latin America

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Genetics Policy
• Latin American Studies

Background:

• Human genome editing (HGE) involves complex ethical and political considerations.
• National regulations are often framed as policy landscapes, influencing HGE governance.
• Latin America faces unique challenges in regulating emerging biotechnologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically examine the ethical and political assumptions embedded in current HGE policy landscapes.
• To identify the limitations and specific effects of these landscapes in the Latin American context.
• To propose alternative frameworks for governing HGE in the region.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of existing national HGE regulations and policy documents.
• Ethical and political critique of the underlying assumptions in policy landscapes.
• Comparative assessment of regulatory approaches in Latin America.

Main Results:

• Current HGE policy landscapes often overlook crucial ethical dimensions and political realities.
• Existing frameworks present significant limitations for effective HGE governance in Latin America.
• The concept of 'circuits of use' highlights the transnational flow of HGE technologies and data.

Conclusions:

• Rethinking HGE policy landscapes is crucial for responsible innovation.
• Focusing on HGE processes and 'circuits of use' offers a more dynamic governance approach.
• Developing context-specific regulatory strategies is essential for Latin America.