THOUSANDS have been granted over the past decade, not just to industry, but to universities and research institutes as well. Nevertheless, is it right?
To date, the debate over the patenting of human DNA has largely consisted of stating and restating entrenched positions: industry, keen to protect investment, is on one side; on the other a mix of NGOs, scientists and other people, who see human DNA as a common heritage that should be protected from commercial exploitation. But there is a tenable middle-ground position, and last week my colleagues and I attempted to outline it in a new report…
