By completely decoding the human genotype in 2003, scientists took an important step towards the understanding of the biochemical roots of life. But with the more detailed knowledge of the human genome and the genetic equipment of the individual person, questions need to be asked about how this new genetic knowledge will be used today and in the future.

Apart from such obvious questions like the costs for individualised medical care or the use of personal genetic data for family, insurance-legal or labour decisions, also questions have to be addressed of how the knowledge of genes influences the self-perception of humans. Moreover, genomics will lead in this increasingly globalised world to new challenges in the ways of political formation.

Apart from directly sponsoring genomics in Austria, the GEN-AU programme also promotes social science projects that deal with possible ethical, legal and social consequences of genomics. The individual projects are investigating the distribution of genetic testing in real medical practice as well as analysing the consequences of genomics on global politics on the basis of various case studies.