Bioethics is a relatively new discipline. It emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as a response to a series of scientific and technological changes in the areas of life sciences. Also, as a response to social changes derived from civil rights movements around the world. In about 50 years, the study of bioethics has favored respect for human dignity and autonomy, has tried to regulate human and animal experimentation, has made visible the importance of informed consent to doctors and patients, and has promoted equity and justice in the distribution of resources and access to services. among many other aspects.

Fortunately, their contributions have not only been in theoretical discourse, but have also been the basis for the development of policies that seek to improve public health, scientific research and the regulation of medical, biological or technological technologies such as cloning, assisted reproduction, and artificial intelligence. Therefore, this subject has been strengthened through the discourse, study and exposition of the ethical dilemmas that arise with life itself (animal or human). Thus, from its very essence, bioethics has positioned itself in university work, which is why, in 2012, the University Program of Bioethics (PUB) was created at UNAM.

Since then, the PUB has made significant progress in academics, administration, and publishing. Thus, through the Technical Secretariat, five lines of work have been developed: research groups and publication of books, essays, Gaceta PUB and opinion columns. With this background, in 2017 the need for an academic journal was detected and work began on the project.

With the aim of having the necessary tools for the development of the project and thus establishing the theoretical and technical bases of the Bioética UNAM journal, Rocío Muciño completed the Diploma in Academic Journal Editing 2021 of the Subdirectorate of Journals (SR) of the General Directorate of Publications and Editorial Promotion (DGPyFE) of the UNAM. From there, efforts increased and it was in 2023 that the PUB's Editorial Committee approved the magazine project. In that same year, a professional editorial team was formed, made up of Elia García as proofreader and Mónica Díaz as editorial assistant. Subsequently, on April 5, 2024, as a result of a vote by the Editorial Committee, Gustavo Ortiz Millán, researcher at the Institute of Philosophical Research of the UNAM, was appointed as editor-in-chief.

Another important aspect to consider was that, through the General Provisions for Editorial and Distribution Activity of the UNAM, and the General Guidelines for the Editing and Publication of Digital Academic Journals of the UNAM, the regulations that govern university publications were applied to the Bioética UNAM project. These same measures indicate the necessary legal procedures that must be complied with before the National Copyright Institute. In this way, in August 2023 the prior opinion was requested and the positive resolution was obtained on November 3. The Reservation of Rights to the Exclusive Use of the Title for the periodical publication Bioética UNAM, as an electronic academic journal, with biannual periodicity, was requested on November 13, 2023 and the certificate was obtained on November 15 of the same year. For its part, the Open Journal System digital platform that hosts the journal was provided and designed by the SR of the DGPyFE between November 2023 and May 2024.

During this period, the first group of associate editors was formed, made up of Bernardo Aguilera (Chile), Asunción Álvarez del Río (Mexico), Gabriela Arguedas Ramírez (Costa Rica), Paola Buedo (Germany), Carol Hernández Rodríguez (Mexico), César Palacios González (United Kingdom), Ignacio Mastroleo (Argentina), María de Jesús Medina Arellano (Mexico) and Beatriz Vanda Cantón (Mexico).

The editorial board was also made up of: Caesar Atuire (United Kingdom), Arthur Caplan (USA), Kevin Behrens (South Africa), María Casado (Spain), Rebecca Cook (Canada), Paulette Dieterlen (Mexico), Débora Diniz (Brazil), Dafna Feinholz (Unesco), Robert T. Hall (Mexico), Alejandro Herrera (Mexico), Nancy Jecker (USA), Frances Kissling (USA), Arnoldo Kraus (Mexico), Marta Lamas (Mexico), Florencia Luna (Argentina), Ruth Macklin (USA),  Cheryl Cox Macpherson (Grenada), Michael Parker (United Kingdom), Janet Radcliffe-Richards (United Kingdom), Vardit Ravitsky (USA), Eduardo Rivera López (Argentina), Paulina Rivero Weber (Mexico), Carla Sáenz (PAHO), Patricio Santillán-Doherty (Mexico), Julian Savulescu (Singapore), Peter Singer (USA/Australia), Mildred Solomon (USA), Margarita M. Valdés (Mexico), Rodolfo Vázquez (Mexico), Tenzin Wangmo (Switzerland) and Jonathan Wolff (United Kingdom).

With this advance, on May 24, 2024, the call for papers in the journal Bioética UNAM was opened and with it the open access electronic academic publication of the PUB was born aimed at the national and international academic community, dedicated to communicating the results of research related to the ethics of biomedical and biological sciences, environmental problems and our relationship with animals; cutting-edge analysis of ethical, legal, political, and artistic issues affecting areas of bioethical interest, as well as the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories on these topics.

Finally, on May 29, 2024, the Editorial Board of the DGPyFE of the UNAM was informed about the emergence of the journal and the launch of the call. Undoubtedly, its birth contributes to university editorial production and favors the development of knowledge, since academic journals are the ideal means to disseminate the results of research, but also for the review, construction and discussion of knowledge.

Having a journal dedicated to the dissemination of research in bioethics at UNAM is of utmost importance, since it promotes knowledge and research, and allows visibility and achievement of academic recognition, which reinforces the prestige of the leading institution in research and higher education in Latin America.

Through discussion and debate, Bioética UNAM is presented as a platform that facilitates interaction and collaboration between various areas of knowledge, promoting a holistic understanding of ethical issues. In addition, it invites reflection on complex and controversial issues and is a forum for informed debate and critical discussion, allowing academics, students and professionals to create collaborative networks that allow them to influence the formulation of public policies, regulatory and ethical frameworks.