Monday, November 27, 2006

20% of Your DNA Is Not Yours

According to this Sunday's Parade Intelligence Report, "1/5 of your genes belong to someone else." Following the sequencing of the human genome, university labs and private firms have been granted patents giving them ownership over 20% of DNA. Other than just being creepy, why should you care?

  • Labs can refuse to allow others to research a certain gene
  • Owners are charging up to $3000 for life-saving genetic tests
  • Uncertainty causes some scientists to avoid potentially important studies
  • Some are refusing to report deaths caused by experimental research under the auspices of "trade secrets"
Michael Crichton, the award-winning author, will be using this subject for an upcoming book.

(Just a thought: Though I don't know much about tort law, what would the potential liability be for those who own the gene which causes, say, Alzheimer's disease? I think a successful wrongful death suit would stop this trend rather quickly...)

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