Should Companies Be Able To Patent Genes?
U.S. Supreme Court United States CourtsOpponents to gene patenting have lost their case in courts before, but they're now trying the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court heard a case today that may sound a bit like old news. The highest court in the land considered whether genes are patentable. You've probably heard of these arguments-and even of the genes in question, BRCA1 and BRCA2-before. That's because a large group, including doctors, researchers and patient advocacy organizations, have been taking this issue to the courts since 2009. That group, which is suing against Myriad Genetics, the biotechnology company that holds the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 patents, has never won the sweeping injunction against gene patenting that it wants. But now, the Supreme Court plans rule on the issue by the end of June. Here's a refresher on the basics of the case, which the Supreme Court heard at 10...