The Concept and Classification of Genomic (Genetic) Information

The importance of genomic information has now increased due to the possibility of its practical use. Meanwhile, the understanding of the term “genomic information” is specified based on different criteria. Genomic information is proposed to be classified depending on the following criteria: 1) the origin of a biological sample, 2) the place of fixation and storage of genomic information, 3) the purpose of use, 4) the completeness of examination, 5) the relation of a person to the acquisition of his or her genomic information, 6) the scope of content. Genomic information can be presented as a generic concept referring to all biological objects, as a special concept (species) referring only to humans, and as subspecies reflecting specificity of such information in a particular area of activity. Genomic information of a living being (human, animal, plant, microorganism) is understood as data on certain fragments of deoxyribonucleic acid (sometimes ribonucleic acid) on the basis of which the living being is identified or other permitted activity is carried out.

Human genomic information is defined as biometric personal data extracted from certain fragments of deoxyribonucleic acid (sometimes ribonucleic acid) of a living individual or corpse, on the basis of which it is possible to identify, determine genetic predispositions or extract patterns of the development of the human being obtained voluntarily, and, in cases provided for by the law, forced to be fixed in a biological sample and/or stored in an information map or database.

It is proved that the existing laws on information or a new law dedicated to regulation of the application of genomic technologies should be amended instead of adopting a special law “On Genetic Information”. 

1. Bayson J. Genetika [Genetics]. Tr. from Fr. Moscow: Atomizdat; 1976. (Russ.)

2. Boltanova ES, Imekova MP. Geneticheskaya informatsiya v sisteme obektov grazhdanskikh prav [Genetic Information in the System of Civil Rights Objects]. Lex russica. 2019;6:110-121. (In Russ.)

3. Gostev AA. Po biologicheskim sledam [On biological traces]. Politsiya Rossii [Police of Russia]. 2017;1:24—27. (In Russ.)

4. Maleina MN. Pravo na taynu i neprikosnovennost personalnykh dannykh [The right to secrecy and inviolability of personal data]. Journal of Russian Law. 2010;11:18—28. (In Russ.)

5. Maleina MN. Pravovoy status biobanka (banka biologicheskikh materialov cheloveka) [Legal status of biobank (bank of human biological materials)]. Pravo. Zhurnal Vysshey shkoly ekonomiki [Law. Journal of the Higher School of Economics]. 2020;1:98—117. (In Russ.).

6. Mikheev VS. Geneticheskaya informatsiya [Genetic information]. In: Kravets SL, editor. Bolshaya rossiyskaya entsiklopediya [Great Russian Encyclopedia]. 2016. Available from: https://bigenc.ru/biology/text/ 2350490 (cited 11 April 2020). (In Russ.)

7. Montgomery G. modifikatsiya genoma cheloveka: vyzovy so storony sfery prav cheloveka, obuslovlennye nauchno-tekhnicheskimi dostizheniyami [Modification of the human genome: challenges from the sphere of human rights due to scientific and technological achievements]. Pretsedenty Evropeyskogo Suda po pravam cheloveka [Precedents of the European Court of Human Rights]. 2018;3:42—56. (In Russ.)

8. Rassolov IM, Chubukova SG, Mikurova IV. Biometriya v kontekste personalnykh dannykh i geneticheskoy informatsii: pravovye problemy [Biometrics in the Context of Personal Data and Genetic Information: Legal Issues]. Lex russica. 2019;1:108-118. (In Russ.)

9. Safonov AA, Kurin AA, Varchenko IA. Zakon prinyat, a nuzhna li Rossii genomnaya registratsiya i kakovy perspektivy ee ispolzovaniya? [The law has been adopted, and does Russia need genomic registration and what are the prospects for its use?]. Society and Law. 2009;5: 259—262. (In Russ.)

10. Tumanov R. Kak eto rabotaet: «biobanki» v Rossii [How it works: “biobanki” in Russia]. St. Peterburgskie vedomosti. [9 January 2019]. Available from: https://spbvedomosti.ru/news/country_and_world/donor_idet_v_bank/ (cited 02 February 2019). (In Russ.)

11. Urukov VN. Otdelnye voprosy pravovogo regulirovaniya geneticheskoy ekspertizy po delam ob ustanovlenii ottsovstva [Certain issues of legal regulation of genetic expertise in cases of paternity establishment]. Mirovoy sudya [Magistrate Judge]. 2008;6:12—15. (In Russ.)

12. Chudinov OS, Pimenov MG, Abramova AB. Tekhniko-ekonomicheskoe obosnovanie vnedreniya dnkissledovaniy v ekspertno-kriminalisticheskuyu deyatelnost i ee avtomatizatsiya [Feasibility study of the introduction of DNA research into expert-forensic activity and its automation]. Expert-criminalist. 2006;3. (In Russ.)