[Gene technology]

The most important concern of this contribution is the question of whether the first officially approved somatic gene therapy experiments in Switzerland (1995) are theologically and ethically justified. On the basis of a christian concept of the dignity of human life this question is taken up with regard to acknowledged, relevant medical principles. The answer, which is basically positive, is nevertheless bound to a series of conditions that are presently indispensable. The second part of the article briefly develops ethical postulates concerning further issues in the discussion on human gene technology (research and production of medicines, genome analysis, so-called predictive medicine, data protection, and effects upon the understanding of health and disease).