Patents Prove to be More Dangerous than Useful
There have been debates recently over whether or not gene patents could be helping or harming the medical industry. Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy conducted a study which analyzed multiple cases in which gene patents were not useful. A main example of this was the recent discovery and patent of the gene BRCA1 and BRCA2 by University of Utah who licensed the genes to Myriad Genetics. This gene is especially prevalent in breast cancer patients, and the study of it could lead to more knowledge about this sort of cancer. However, instead of releasing the information about the gene, a patent was placed on it so that Myriad could make money through their information gathered from this gene. This specific case was challenged in court and the federal judge ruled against the patenting of genes because they are not manmade, but rather a product of nature. Many major genetic corporations combat this idea through arguing the vigorous amount of work that is placed into translating the DNA and altering it so that it may be understood by researchers.
There is without a doubt a major business to be made of the millions of genes that are both known and unknown. Each gene that is discovered can bring more knowledge to the field of genetics as well as the entire medical community. As more genes are discovered, more diseases are able to be understood. However, if the genes are being hidden in order to make a business out of human illness, these breakthroughs will not be able to occur. In the end, it becomes a question of whether the researcher is studying the gene to better mankind, or to better the size of his or her paycheck.
http://cenblog.org/the-haystack/2010/04/duke-study-says-gene-patents-harm-innovation/
There is without a doubt a major business to be made of the millions of genes that are both known and unknown. Each gene that is discovered can bring more knowledge to the field of genetics as well as the entire medical community. As more genes are discovered, more diseases are able to be understood. However, if the genes are being hidden in order to make a business out of human illness, these breakthroughs will not be able to occur. In the end, it becomes a question of whether the researcher is studying the gene to better mankind, or to better the size of his or her paycheck. 
It is unfortunate when situations like this come about, individuals work and find scientific breakthroughs and instead of using it for the betterment of mankind they stick a price tag on it. Im sure many of the scientists who worked on this project had good intentions, but it just goes back to the fact that they work for a corporation and ultimately it is the corporations decision as to what they do with this information.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Steve, it is sad that such monumental breakthroughs in science are kept secret from those who can use these discoveries for the good of society. If the right person gets a hold of the information about the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, it could lead to a cure for this type of cancer. Patents would not allow for such a discovery to happen. This article truly displays how greed and corruption can touch anything, even something as important as information regarding a possible cancer-causing gene.
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