Developments in biotechnology during the past two decades have provided us with a greater understanding of the genetic makeup of living organisms. Although the full potential of biotechnology has yet to be realized, it is now possible to isolate and move genes across different species. The main driving force for biotechnology development is the promise for medicine.
With the completion of the Human Genome Project, it is now easier to identify genes that control diseases. The uses of human genomic information are numerous, including so-called genetic testing -- for diagnostic purposes in newborn babies and individuals suspected of carrying defective genes. It can also be used in gene therapy or as a research tool in other research areas.
Such technological capabilities, however, may challenge the way we think, live and relate to one another. There are two major areas of concern: how human biotechnology will affect human rights that have been recognized in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and how to regulate the technology to prevent potential abuses.