HUMAN GENOME INFORMATION SUBJECT TO STATE REGISTRATION AND FEATURES OF ITS STORAGE

Abstract

Introduction. The use of genomic information is important both in peacetime and during wartime, especially for the rapid and accurate identification of deceased military personnel and civilians, as well as in cases of significant mutilation of bodies. The registration of genomic information in Ukraine is regulated by the Law “On State Registration of Human Genomic Information,” which came into force in 2022. The main goal is to create an electronic registry for identifying individuals, searching for missing persons, and investigating crimes. Most developed countries have their own registries (e. g., CODIS in the United States or NDNAD in the United Kingdom), which mainly store data on individuals who have committed crimes. Within the framework of international cooperation in the investigation of crimes, the exchange of genomic information between countries is possible through Interpol channels or bilateral agreements, but subject to strict confidentiality and data protection. However, for such an exchange of genomic information between countries, the data in the Ukrainian registry must comply with European DNA profiling standards, and it is also necessary to harmonize the conceptual framework of definitions of genomic information (in Ukraine and abroad) and clarify its content. For the process of further identification of individuals, it is important to understand the specifics of storing genomic information, depending on its category and compliance with certain criteria. Purpose. The purpose of the study is to analyze the content of human genomic information subject to state registration and to determine the specifics of its storage. Materials and methods. The research materials include: 1) regulatory and legal support for the formation and use of human genetic trait records, as well as regulation of the operation of the Electronic Register of Human Genomic Information, international legal documents; 2) works by domestic and foreign authors conducting scientific and practical research on the legal aspects of human genomic information, the prospects for using foreign experience in DNA registration and the study of forensic DNA analysis. The following scientific methods were used in the course of the study: theoretical generalization and grouping (to characterize the regulatory and legal acts of Ukraine, as well as numerous international legal documents); formalization, analysis, and synthesis (to study the peculiarities of storing human genomic information and identify its criteria); logical generalization of results (formulation of conclusions). Results. The concept of human genomic information is provided in the Law of Ukraine “On State Registration of Human Genomic Information” which defines it as information about human genetic characteristics. Ukrainian legislation uses the terms “genetic (genomic) information”, “genetic characteristics” and “DNA profile”. However, it should be noted that the phrase “genomic information” used in Ukraine is not actually used in international legal documents, where the term “genetic data” is used instead. After analyzing the concepts of “genomic information”, “DNA profile” and “genetic data” we conclude that genetic (genomic) information in a broad sense may include information about all human genetic traits, i. e., their entire genome, which, as is known, consists of approximately 3 billion base pairs. In turn, DNA profiles used in the criminal justice system contain only those genetic traits (information) that are necessary for identification and diagnostic tasks in the process of preventing, detecting, and investigating crimes. The peculiarities of storing human genomic information include both physical storage of biological material (e. g., DNA samples from military personnel) and digital storage (information about genetic traits). Understanding the content of genomic information and the specifics of its storage helps in practical activities, through the use of automated forensic records of human genetic traits, to solve crimes based on biological traces left behind, identify deceased persons, etc. Discussion. Further research should focus on the organizational and technical aspects of maintaining an electronic registry of human genomic information. This will optimize the identification of individuals who have committed criminal offenses, speed up the search for missing persons, and automate interagency cooperation at the national and international levels.