Epigenetics and Legal Regulations: A Challenge for the State’s Obligation to Protect Environment, Individual’s Health and Civil Rights

Abstract

Epigenetics is a central topic of research in the life sciences at the beginning of the twenty-first century. As we become aware of the fact that genes and the environment interact with each other in a dialectic process, the dogma of genetic determinism is proven wrong. The impact of environmental factors can damage genes as well as modify genetic functions. This may cause diseases. Epigenetics therefore contributes to a better understanding of diseases and opens up new possibilities for diagnostics and treatment. At the same time, this brings up several legal questions, including a risk assessment of new as well as of conventional technologies and noxious substances, the role of preventive public health care, the social reimbursement, responsibility, and liability for any epigenetically relevant environmental impact, and assessment based on medical legislation.