If you knew that your child is going to have Breast Cancer 100%, would you try and change this fact if the means were available? The fact is that these means will not be discovered due to poor public policy in our government right now. A company known as Myriad currently owns two of the genes in the human genome that code for breast cancer, and because of this, noone besides Myriad can research into a gene-therapy cure. Sound fair to you?
Every year, stacks upon stacks of patents are sent into the patent offices across the world of people trying to stake ownership of genes. The fact is that this clearly should not be happening. What has the person who discovered the gene created? It is merely an observation. If I discover a stack of $100 bills on my neighbor's porch, does this mean that the money is mine? Absolutely not and the same concept works for genes. Just because I analyzed the genes and realized which one codes for what protein which codes for what characteristic doesn't mean that I should be able to claim ownership on it.
The people that claim these patents for genes that code for diseases such as Breast Cancer, Huntington's and SARS are helping themselves out, though. They are monopilizing research on the gene so that once a cure is found to that genetic defect, they are going to be the guaranteed discoverers. However, not all research comes out with a plausible result. If genes would not be patented, then whoever wanted to cure SARS could analyze the gene and try their own methods.
What gene patenting is doing is hindering research. This is one of the most detrimental things that could happen to science in a field that is advancing by the minute. New genetic techniques and discoveries are made every day across the world and if research is hindered in anyway, it could be costly to the whole industry. Does the United States really need another industry (engineering, medical fields, etc.) where we lose our spot at the top of the class? I don't think so. Gene patents should be outlawed by the law, so that research can be done for the good of mankind, not the good of one man's wallet.
If interested in gene-patenting and other problems in the genetic industry, I highly suggest reading Michael Crichton's novel "Next." It brings to light many problems that usually go unnoticed in the world of genetics that the everyday man doesn't usually pay attention to.
I will also be continuing this blog in a series that will deal with new aspects of genetics. Please let me know your thoughts and any ideas that you would like researched. Thanks
How exactly does one go about patenting a gene and what kind of patent is it? I find the idea of gene patenting rather disconcerting, and I'd like to know more about it which is why I wish you had gone into greater detail.
Public policy has been so far behind when it comes to technology and its getting us into all kinds of trouble, especially when it comes to genetics and fertility treatments.
Common sense is as rare as genius. ~Emerson
Colorado November Ballot Measure to Legally Define a Fertilized Egg as a Person
I was unaware that this is going on as well. I would like to know if anyone has contested the patent.
I love abortion. Read more here:
http://progressiveu.org/044921-i-love-abortion-even-if-it-murder
Both of you, I wrote a new blog detailing this process for you and hope that you read it and give me feedback. Here is the URL: http://www.progressiveu.org/131929-genetics-2-gene-patenting-demystified. Thanks
Esuffern, you take the same path as you would for any biological patent. And the government should let science do its own thing and not try and interfere in any manner except for funding.
Leslie Q, there have been groups against this and people have tried to change it, but nothing has happened as of yet.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/nharris1032
I just hate the idea of patenting science. I couldn't imagine Darwin patenting evolution, or Newton patenting gravity. It really is hindering progress in research.
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Interesting. We could just cut out the patent jean and go from there...we could even mail it to the 'owners'... Politics in science is a bad combe...I really can't stand people sometimes.
Why change the rules.... maybe the patent office thought the misspelt jeans... Because its complicated. I thought in the science world if you wanted dibs you slept less, drank more coffee, and horded the equipment and brains to yourself. Not manipulate the 'gov' to suit your pocket.
Has lazyness spread to all corners
~T
Random thought: maybe there is or could be an AIDS cure if it were not for 'the 'tards in charge.
All truths are easy to understand once discovered; The point is to discover them ~Galileo