BRCA1 Gene Patented in Australia

Snowtimedreaming

Today the Australian judicial system has compromised the future of all BRCA1 genetic carriers. They have upheld an application by a company called Genetic Technologies Limited to have a patent on the BRCA1 Gene. Myriad Genetics (a US company) has granted a licence to patent  the BRCA1 gene to Genetic Technologies Limited. The upshot of this is 1. increased cost of screening 2. limited access to research. 3.private ownership of genetic access information 4. It opens the floodgates on the patent of all other genes and the implications of that.

This is an utter failure in reasonableness on the premise that there is no new invention, no new manufactured item or anything else. It is naturally occurring and already exists........all they have done is identified and named the naturally occurring human gene.

Apparently a similar application goes to court in the US in April. I hope to God that the Australian government has the guts to step in on this case because if they fail to it has let down every possible cancer sufferer in the world both now and into the future. Additionally I hope that an appeal is lodged urgently and that this ludicrous decision is overturned.

Regards Y