Indiana Law Journal Volume 48 Issue 4 Article 2 Summer 1973 Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering: Frankenstein is Still a Myth, but it Should be Reread Periodically George A. Hudock Indiana University - Bloomington Follow this and additional works at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj Part of the Genetics and Genomics Commons Recommended Citation Hudock, George A. (1973) "Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering: Frankenstein is Still a Myth, but it Should be Reread Periodically," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 48 : Iss. 4 , Article 2. Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol48/iss4/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Law School Journals at Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Indiana Law Journal by an authorized editor of Digital Repository @ Maurer Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. GENE THERAPY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING: FRANKENSTEIN IS STILL A MYTH, BUT IT SHOULD BE REREAD PERIODICALLY GEORGE A. HUDOCKt Biotechnology and the law are far removed from each other as disciplines of human intellect. Yet the law and my own discipline, genetics, have come together in many courtrooms concerning such matters as paternity, and they will continue to intersect with increasing frequency as the visions of 100 years ago become the reality of today. This article examines the implications of recent research for human genetic therapy and genetic engineering, and suggests some guidelines for legal regulation of genetic technology. The following discussion derives from three premises which I view as basic: (1) that which is currently possible in genetic engineering, and in fact has already been done, is generally underestimated; (2) what may be possible in the near future is quite commonly overesti- mated; (3) regulation of the application of genetic technology is possible and will not be overwhelmingly complicated.