You Don't Own Your Genes

[Ellirium113]

You don't 'own' your own genes: Researchers raise alarm about loss of individual 'genomic liberty' due to gene patents

Humans don't "own" their own genes, the cellular chemicals that define who they are and what diseases they might be at risk for. Through more than 40,000 patents on DNA molecules, companies have essentially claimed the entire human genome for profit, report two researchers who analyzed the patents on human DNA. Their study, published March 25 in the journal Genome Medicine, raises an alarm about the loss of individual "genomic liberty."

"Almost every day, I come across a gene that is patented—a situation that is common for every geneticist in every lab," says Dr. Mason. Dr. Mason and his research partner sought to determine how many other genes may be impacted by gene patents, as well as the overall landscape of intellectual property on the human genome.

To conduct the study, Dr. Mason and Dr. Rosenfeld examined the structure of the human genome in the context of two types of patented sequences: short and long fragments of DNA. They used matches to known genes that were confirmed to be present in patent claims, ranging from as few as 15 nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) to the full length of all patented DNA fragments.

Before examining the patented sequences, the researchers first calculated how many genes had common segments of 15 nucleotide (15mer), and found that every gene in the human genome matched at least one other gene in this respect, ranging from as few as five matches 15mer to as many as 7,688 gene matches. They also discovered that 99.999 percent of 15mers in the human genome are repeated at least twice.

"This demonstrates that short patent sequences are extremely non-specific and that a 15mer claim from one gene will always cross-match and patent a portion of another gene as well," says Dr. Mason. "This means it is actually impossible to have a 15mer patent for just one gene."

Next, researchers examined the total sequence space in human genes covered by 15mers in current patent claims. They found 58 patents whose claims covered at least 10 percent of all bases of all human genes. The broadest patent claimed sequences that matched 91.5 percent of human genes. Then, when they took existing gene patents and matched patented 15mers to known genes, they discovered that 100 percent of known genes are patented.

"There is a real controversy regarding gene ownership due to the overlap of many competing patent claims. It is unclear who really owns the rights to any gene," says Dr. Rosenfeld. "While the Supreme Court is hearing one case concerning just the BRCA1 patent, there are also many other patents whose claims would cover those same genes. Do we need to go through every gene to look at who made the first claim to that gene, even if only one small part? If we resort to this rule, then the first patents to be granted for any DNA will have a vast claim over portions of the human genome."

http://m.medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-dont-genes-alarm-loss-individual.html

Alright...let's go after them for child support and allowances!!   

[VillageIdiot]

So does this mean they can seize your body upon death?

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around a corporation owning my body in this way. It is the ultimate feeling of powerlessness.

What kind of creatures are we dealing with? They're heinous, not human. Who the hell do they think they are? God?

[petrus4]

Ah, the joys of Capitalism.

[Anynonmouses]

People, people people! Just because a group of extortionist bankpuppet thugs and their accomplices decide they're going to write unconstitutional laws it doesn't mean that the laws they generate are legal, only enforced. Unconstitutional laws aren't laws, just wasted paper and time.

I don't give two chunks of fecal matter WHAT the idiots on Capital Hill think, my genes are my genes, my body belongs to me and I will render anyone who thinks they can own any part of me irrelevant, if not immobile.

Egghead capitalists are getting way out of control. If these white lab coat sporting inbreeds think they can push people around and keep taking from others what doesn't belong to them there will be serious repercussions of the direct variety. I for one am sick of jackasses, and I'm in no mood to play word parsing or genome games.

Let these idiots keep thinking...if you can call it that. These genetic trolls are in for a surprise or two. A sovereign answers to no one, owes no one, is beholden to no one and subject only to self, not illegal laws generated by social zeros who can't even dance. No one owns my genes but me. Any geneticist who disagrees is welcome to try to come get a sample. Good luck.

Good thread; as always, remember that WE own everything, including ourselves, not those who supposedly work for us, or on our behalf, if you can call stealing "work."

Peace and Love
Unless you're one of those inbred geneticists--in which case you have been warned,
JD

[Pimander]

It is the information that is being patented.  The solution would be universal removal of the right to own information apart from creative works.  Unfortunately Capitalism places no value on anything we can't exploit so we need to modify it or get rid of it.  Take your pick.

Free market Capitalism is a misnomer.  It means free to exploit people.  Small businesses and enterprise need protecting from massive Corporations and the banks need bringing into line.  Currency should never be issued by private interests again.  Jefferson was right.

[Amaterasu]

...companies have essentially claimed the entire human genome for profit...

Yup.  You know MY solution.

[Pimander]

Shall I genetically engineer a virus that only effects greedy bastards?  We could call it the Bankersimis parasitella Virus.

[Anynonmouses]

Logically all information is of value, however once a party "in the know" sets a price for knowledge, those without means will be excluded from benefit, which in net effect excludes a portion of our species from advancement. This self-induced restriction in the flow of knowledge is what keeps mankind stupid longer.

Knowledge is free, and those who believe otherwise are trying to perpetuate an "us or them" paradigm. You only get into elite schools if your bank account or connections permit. This is completely contrary to logic, since money and mind power have little or nothing to do with one another aside from the obvious, being that rich people only tend to look out for other rich people. Exceptions are rare.

We are here on this planet to gather and disseminate knowledge. How dare we allow some to hold ANY knowledge hostage by forcing people to pay for it!? I can already hear the egotistic grumblings coming from ivy leaguers who say the information "costs" a lot to generate and disseminate. No it doesn't. All understandings and advancements have come free, except for some asshole attaching a dollar amount to it.

We struggle on this planet PRECISELY because of the "us or them" mindset; otherwise there would be no hindrance, and an advancement for one would be an advancement for all. Can't have THAT, though, because we don't want those unsavory types mucking about with high-end knowledge, or THEY would attempt to control!

The smarter we get collectively the quicker we can all wake up and realize that it is in our best interest to open the floodgates of knowledge, because some otherwise economically disadvantaged pimple-faced jerk you probably don't even know could be the one who makes traveling among the stars possible (again).

You raise a child to be at LEAST as smart as you, correct? We should use that as a global model, and knock off the stupid class warfare and proprietary THIS, and patented THAT. Stupid! All of those ridiculous road blocks humans set before one another need to be eliminated, unless it remains a goal to exclude some based on prejudice.

Those who love the healing arts should be afforded at no cost THE BEST education technology and experience can offer, because those enjoy healing others do so out of love. You shouldn't charge money for that. Scientists--same thing. If people are into science, create mechanisms that facilitate broadening THEIR understanding of physics. Don't hold patents, denying mankind the advancement! Free it up and let's get on with our mental--if not metaphysical evolution!

Now...I expect all of you to go out there and PLAY NICE. If you discover a breakthrough, SHARE IT!

Peace and Love,
JD

[Ellirium113]

  What the...    COMMON SENSE ALERT!!!

Sanity prevails: US Supreme Court rules that human genes are not eligible for patent protection

In a unanimous ruling, the United States Supreme Court ruled today that human genes cannot be patented. The ruling invalidates the thousands of patents that have already been granted on human genes, including the patent by Myriad Genetics on the BRCA breast cancer genes which the company says no one else can research or even detect without paying it a royalty.

Huge victory for humanity

Ultimately, this decision is a tremendous victory for all humankind because it prevents the power-hungry, evil-bent medical and biotech corporations from claiming ownership over genetic sequences that already occur in nature.

This ruling means the biotech industry cannot patent common plants and animals, either. They can't patent human body parts or human gene sequences. Yes, the industry can still patent synthetically-created genes, said the Supreme Court, but that's something they would actually have to create rather than merely discover in an already-existing organism.

Today's ruling also means that men and women will have access to far less expensive testing for gene sequences in their own bodies. Currently, women who want to test themselves for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes must pay as much as $4,000 for the test due to the monopoly "ownership" of those genes by Myriad Genetics. But now that the Supreme Court has ruled such patents are invalid, prices for the test should drastically fall over time as competition enters the picture. Ultimately, the test could eventually be offered for as little as $100.

The ruling also means that other companies can conduct research on those genes without first seeking permission from Myriad. This will actually spur more innovation, potentially leading to more advanced genetic analysis tests that might help people better understand their health risks (and hopefully encourage them to change their diets and lifestyle choices to avoid expressing those genes).

In a world that seems increasingly dominated by corporate monopolies and biotechnology insanity, this ruling is a breath of fresh air. It confirms that corporations cannot patent naturally-occurring things which have been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years, and it confirms that when you have a child through an act of genetic replication, corporations cannot force you to pay royalties for your own child.

This is a decision of fundamental freedom, which is why I'm shocked the court actually ruled this way. This must be one of those rare moments of sanity in a Supreme Court that otherwise seems intent on destroying human liberty, dignity and justice.

Decision shows the important work of ACLU in protecting human rights against corporate domination

We must all thank the ACLU on this decision, as it was the ACLU which argued this to victory.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/sanity-prevails-us-supreme-court-rules-that-human-genes-are-not-eligible-for-patent-protection.html