© Natural Society
Gene patenting has been going on for over 100 years while science and technology has been continually allowing for greater advancements. Over the past 30 years alone, there has been over 40,000 patents created and accepted on genes alone. As genes continue to be acquired and patented, it is only a matter of time before large corporations own patents on a large number of human genes and tissues. What may seem staggering, though, is that the more than 20 percent of the human genome is already patented.
The Fears Alongside with Gene Pattenting
To create a patentable gene sequences an individual must find something in nature, isolate it, and alter it in order to create something deemed 'useful'. Much of the debate in favor of creating gene sequences revolves around society and corporate driven company ownership issues. As a creator of a gene sequence, individuals or companies expect ownership of the creation as well as protection from anyone else stealing the idea. If companies were not able to patent gene sequences, then other companies could exploit the original creators' ideas and ultimately profit themselves. Of course the patents in question revolve around the human genome, which no corporation rightfully owns. In addition, corporations use the argument that many of these gene sequences correlate with diseases like breast cancer and Alzheimer's disease. The creation of such gene sequences give merit to the idea of gene manipulation as the created gene sequence could lead to increased protection against bodily invaders.
