PARENTAL RELATIVE ATTRIBUTION IN MODERN ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTIVE TECHNIQUES; EPIGENETIC CONCEPTS AND NEW LEGAL CONSEQUENCES
Jabbari E., Bozorgmehr A. A. and Banihashemi K.*
ABSTRACT
Background: During recent decades, great improvements in the form of artificial reproductive techniques (ARTs) occurred in the field of infertility treatments, which changed the concept of conventional double parenthood. Concerning the genetic relative contribution of each interfering parent to evolution of the ARTs fetuses, now complex legal and jurisprudential issues on the child descent and custody revealed. Materials and methods: A systematic applied qualitative approach over the nature and interactions of interfering legal and medical elements in descent determination in most complicated ART guided pregnancies planned and comparative study on relative physiologic and genetic contribution has been set. Then specific data gathering and classification in the form of surveys conducted. Results: A set of extracted concepts is presented to jurisprudential bodies which confirmed and formed the puzzle of the legal authorities' opinions towards the issue. In the next step a re-structured model of fetal evolution with adding the modern epi-genetics issues to the conventional pattern of double parenthood is provided. Discussion: Genetics and epi-genetic events have been considered as major determinants in our cells' fate, differentiation and behavior all over our lives. Regarding these deep effects over somatic and psychological status, and character, the role of epi-genetic ultra-structural alterations from intervening contribution elements like surrogate womb, ovum cytoplasm and other parameters may considered as vital and most profound. This fact will change our attitude towards the current jurisprudential state matrix by taking some new epi-genetic parameters into account as a source of influence on embryo nature and nurture which might be implicated in child descent and custody.
Keywords: Artificial Reproductive Techniques, Epi-genetics, Law, Descent, Custody.
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