Congressmen Introduce Bill to End Gene Patents
Posted by Osagie K. Obasogie February 28, 2007
Biopolitical Times
Patenting genes has become a burgeoning biotech business model, with over the 20% of the human genome already in privately owned hands. Thankfully, Congress is starting to look into this matter. Representatives Xavier Becerra (CA-31) and Dave Weldon, (FL-15) recently introduced a bill in the United States House of Representatives aiming to end patents on human genes. Congress would be wise to debate this matter seriously and move swiftly before this human genome gold rush by biomedical 49ers privatizes more of our common humanity. Click here for a thoughtful essay by Lori Andrews on rethinking this area of patent policy.