It was estimated that ~20% of all human genes were subject to some patent protection. Critics suggested that overly broa
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2022 1:21 pm
It was estimated that ~20% of all human genes were subject tosome patent protection. Critics suggested that overly broad patentsmight block follow-on research and increase the costs of geneticdiagnostics. Defenders of the system would argue that patents werenecessary to protect intellectual property and provide incentivesfor investment. A Supreme Court case earlier this century struckdown patents on individual genes, such as BRCA1 (the breast andovarian cancer susceptibility gene), however, a group oflegislators and industry representatives have been trying to revivegene patenting. Is this an issue that needs to be revisited?