[Development of specimen banks for research in molecular epidemiology]

In recent years, methodology has been implemented with the purpose to establish DNA diagnostic banking by means of transformed cell lines, direct extracted DNA, cryopreserved blood or other tissues and the study of samples embedded in paraffin. The objectives of the storage of individual DNA samples are for academic and research purposes, principally for gene mapping, and for diagnostic services to those who are at genetic risk and may be interested in family-based linkage testing, for establishing forensic DNA data bank, and for tissue transplantation. These developments implicate important legal and ethical issues, and institute rights and obligations of the donors and of the persons that conduct the banks.