Does it disturb you that someone (other than you) may own the genes that are part of your body?

Question

Scientific institutions and individuals have been patenting the genes in our bodies and now own them as their personal property. More than 20 percent of human genes have already been patented, and most of those patents are owned by corporations and its aim is to make money.

Here is a potent example:

"Professor Hilgartner noted how this kind of control can play out in the real world. In the case of the Canavan disease patent, for example, a family afflicted by this rare genetic disorder initiated an effort to find the gene mutation responsible for the disease. They raised money, collected DNA samples and attracted researchers to the cause."

"After a researcher found the gene in the late 1990s, he and his employer, Miami Children’s Hospital, patented it and began charging royalties on a genetic test to screen for the disease — despite the fact that they would never have found the gene without the efforts and the DNA samples of the afflicted."
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/business/yourmoney/28reframe.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Answer 1

I think that specific genes themselves are too elemental to be owned by an individual or entity. It would be like taking out a patent or copyright on water or something like that. Impossible to actually enforce as well as just plain idiotically greedy.
When you start talking about a gene patch or an entire section of DNA, this I believe can be viably "owned" as it is more complex and can be specifically manufactured as a "unique" product.

Answer 2

No, as long as they don't try to charge me a license fee!

This is a difficult issue. If a drug company cannot protect it's work in some way, the millions of dollars spent on the research cannot be re-couped. I do think though that novel research should not be tied to licensing by the owners of the identified genes - this will over time stifle research.

Answer 3

The ownership of the gene has been established at birth, no one can copyright, patent or claim ownership to patent a living cell.
Nice try.

Answer 4

Wh would it distrub me to know that we all come from the same human race and family of man kind? what really disturbs me is the fact that we have 50% DNA and genes as that of a banana.

Answer 5

Don't like it. Medical info should be shared for the good of the race.

Answer 6

you mean like a crazy scientist?

Answer 7

my genes are 99.99% the same as anyone elses.

Answer 8

yes that sucks!

Answer 9

not really

Answer 10

O well what to do?...