Supreme Court to Decide if Human Genes Are Patentable

[the_glow_worm]

Comments

[seasight]

I'm somehow not surprised that it's ovaries and breasts under contention, again. I know this has wider implications, but still...

[lil_insanity]

...what. How does this even make sense? That's like trying to patent a blood type! It's a gene that comes from people, not an invention! It's not like these people in labs have invented some sort of genetic mutation that they could insert into someone's DNA to prevent cancer... they're just looking at what's already there.

Ugh.

[moonshaz]

Mte.

[romp]

I hope this is fixed. It's a money-grab which is sacred in the US, I know, but people have to draw a line. Or the court does.

Breast Cancer Action is a plaintiff in this and they have more info: Putting Patients Before Profits: Why We Must End Gene Patenting

[mary_pickforded]

[recorded]

Women who fear they may be at an increased risk are barred from having anyone look at their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes or interpret them except for the patent holder, which charges about $3,000 per test or more.

That's fucking gross. I love non-profits/governments that buy up patents to lower fees where they can be lowered.