The Supreme Court is going to consider the questions around gene patenting. What ethical and moral issues are arising. Where should the church stand? The New York Times reports:
The Supreme Court is poised to take up the highly charged question of whether human genes can be patented. But another question could trump it: Has the field of genetics moved so far so fast that whatever the court decides, it has come too late to the issue?
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Myriad Genetics
A Myriad Genetics scientist preparing samples for DNA sequencing. The Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday, involving the company, on whether human genes can be patented.
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Opponents of gene patents say no company should have rights to what is essentially part of the human body. They contend that Myriad’s monopoly has impeded medical progress and access to testing — in some cases denying patients their own genetic information.
Myriad and its allies in the biotechnology industry counter that a ruling that invalidates gene patents would upend three decades of patenting practice and undermine billions of dollars of investments to develop not only genetic tests but also biotech drugs, DNA-based vaccines and genetically modified crops.