i was reading an artical i found kind of disturbing.i didnt understand a lot of the medical terms but apparently the human genome contains approximately 24000 genes.Lrge industries have bought the patents on appproximately 1/5 of them.They can legaly do this due to a loophole approved by the US Patent and Trademark Office.Once youisolate theindividual gene from the DNA its no longer considered to be in its naturaul state and can be patented according to them.
The disturbing part is this.Biotechnology companies are buying them and using them to halt important medical research ina coupleways.The first is this, they control the individual gene for 20 years, meaning no one can use it in research unless they approve it.The second way is they charge independantlabrotories looking for cures out the ass to use them.they have charged fees as high as $250,000 plus they get royalties on each test done.Finally, they can charge/ and regulate tests being done to locate certain genes associated with some deseases.
The Brach1 gene is associated with breast cancer for instance.5 to 10 of white women diagnosed with breast cancer stems from flaws in this gene.Myriad genetics in Salt lake City however hold the patent on this and charges 3000$ a pop to screen for it, and nobody else can do the tests as long as they hold the patent for 20 years.
The patents involve such genes as ones related to breast cancer, diabetes, Alzhiemers, and epilepsy among others.Theyre either halting, or almost robbing these labratories using these genes to the point 1/3 of them have quit research on the genes under patent all together.
So anyway, just wondering how all you folks felt about having your bodies patented and sold to profit from or stop the research ofadvances in technology that could one save some of us from theseailments.[:'(]
patenting human genes
