Supreme Court Rules Human Genes May Not Be Patented:
“A naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for a unanimous court. But manipulating a gene to create something not found in nature is an invention eligible for patent protection. The case concerned patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah company, on genes that correlate with increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Believe it or not USA Today was out fast with a long story on this issue with quotes and everything. Here's the full text of the decision. Needless to say this is a pretty big deal, and I'm somewhat surprised this was a unanimous decision. Perhaps the justices actually listen to scientists and their bleating sometimes? I'll be checking in to the Genomics Law Report regularly today.... Update: Just to note, ...
