can someone tell me what it is?!
2006-12-17 03:55:25 · 4 answers · asked by Button.Monster 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
You cannot own a gene in itself. You need to have an application justifying why you claim the property of the gene.
If you discover a gene, and an application linked to it (e.g. a gene that if silenced can prevent a disease; or a gene that if introduced in an organism can have a significant impact in its growth or allows a drug to be grown in this organism...), then you can apply a patent on it.
It is not proper ownership but intellectual property, meaning that if your patent is granted, you have a monopoly on this specific application for 20 years from the date of application.
2006-12-17 19:59:51 · answer #1 · answered by Ingrid M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The poster above is absolutely correct. Michael Crichton's current novel exhibits this flaw.
Genes don't even have to be varied to be 'owned'. In fact, most of the patents for genes today are for genes that exist NATURALLY in us. Most of these patents are filed by huge pharmaceutical companies and when they 'own' a gene (it could be a common one all of us possess...just discovered by them) they have all the right to that specific gene and thus, all the rights to the protein(s) generated by such a gene.
TAQ polymerase in bacteria is a prime example. It is a protein which replicates more DNA (thus making more DNA). A company 'owns' that gene so that nobody in the country can make their own TAQ polymerase although it is ridiculously easy to do so since that gene is everywhere in bactera. The company as a result can sell TAQ themselves at ridiculously high prices and if anybody is caught making TAQ, they can be jailed and/or severely fined.
Michael Crichton relates 'owning genes' as ludicrous as 'owning' gravity or 'owning' apples (where nobody else can grow apples because you were the first to discover apples).
-Kevin
2006-12-17 12:39:44 · answer #2 · answered by Squawks 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That previous post is accurate: Monsanto, Genentech, Syngenta etc. all own the seeds and gene lines they have developed. They have patents on them. But it gets worse.
I'm reading Michael Crichton's "Next" right now. According to him, these companies can even take samples of our own genes and patent them. That's right - legally, you do not own your genes! Read the book....
2006-12-17 12:10:05 · answer #3 · answered by keepsondancing 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when Monsanto or whoever makes new varieties or species by playing weird games with DNA, then they own that organism , for 15 years or so anyway
2006-12-17 11:59:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋