May 22nd, 2009
Posted by Selene Kaye, Women's Rights Project at 11:46am	Free Speech, Women's Rights

Why Gene Patents Are Unlawful

(Originally posted on ACSBlog.)

Last week the ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. government's practice of granting patents on human genes - specifically, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with breast and ovarian cancer. In the last 20 or so years the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has issued patents on thousands of human genes — the segments of DNA that we all have in our cells — giving private corporations, individuals, and universities the exclusive rights to those genetic sequences and their usage.

The patents on the BRCA genes are particularly broad and offensive. The PTO has granted Myriad Genetics, a private biotechnology company based in Utah, patents on both the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic sequences, on any mutations along those genes, on any methods for locating mutations on the genes, without further specification on the type of methods, and on correlations between genetic mutations and susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer.

The lawsuit charges, as critics of gene patents have argued for years, that gene patents stifle biomedical research and interfere with patients' access to genetic testing. The lawsuit argues that the patents on the BRCA genes are unconstitutional and invalid given the long-standing legal precedent that "products of nature" and "laws of nature" are not patentable. The suit also makes the novel argument that the practice of patenting genes, their correlations with disease, and the thought of comparing two genes violates the First Amendment and interferes with scientific freedom.

To be clear, the patent claims being challenged do in fact include claims on the genes themselves. For example, the text of Patent 5,747,282, Claim 1 reads:

What is claimed is:

1. An isolated DNA coding for a BRCA1 polypeptide, said polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.

Translation: Claim 1 covers the BRCA1 genetic sequence, specifically the wild-type, or what is considered typical, sequence. Because the PTO grants patents on the genes themselves, it essentially gives patent holders a monopoly over the patented genes and all of the information contained within them. Anyone who uses a patented gene without permission of the patent holder is committing patent infringement and can be sued by the patent holder. Thus patent holders have the right to prevent other researchers from testing, studying or even looking at the genes. If the PTO simply granted patents on particular methods of examining and testing genes, then other scientists and laboratories could develop alternative methods, and research and testing could advance at a much faster pace. This lawsuit is not challenging any patent claims over specific genetic tests.

This suit is the first to challenge the patentability of human genes in the United States. The PTO has justified these patents by holding that "DNA compounds having naturally occurring sequences are eligible for patenting when isolated from their natural state and purified." Yet, "isolated and purified" simply means that the gene has been excised from the natural chromosome; it otherwise has not been engineered or transformed.

Patent law has long held that products of nature and laws of nature are not patentable subject matter. Proponents of gene patents often cite Diamond v. Chakrabarty, a divided five to four U.S. Supreme Court decision issued in 1980. In that case, the court upheld patenting of a genetically modified bacterium that was genetically engineered to ingest oil for use in oil spill cleanups. However, Chakrabarty actually reaffirmed the principle advanced in this case: "The laws of nature, physical phenomena, and abstract ideas have been held not patentable. Thus, a new mineral discovered in the earth or a new plant found in the wild is not patentable subject matter." While the identification of human genes and their associations with disease are important contributions to scientific progress, genes and their correlations nonetheless remain products and laws of nature.

More recently, the U.S. Supreme Court has signaled its disapproval of patents on medical correlations. In the 2006 LabCorp v. Metabolite, some of the current justices said that, had the case been heard by the court rather than dismissed as improvidently granted, they would have ruled that such correlation claims are invalid for being unpatentable.

Gene patents also raise constitutional questions. The Patent Clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power to award patents "to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries." Human genes are not inventions, and awarding patents on them does not promote the progress of science. Instead, gene patents slow scientific advancement, because there is no way to invent around a gene — the gene is the basis for all subsequent research. Furthermore, gene patents implicate the First Amendment. By granting monopolies on the very thought that there is a relationship between specific genetic mutations and diseases, the government has restricted scientific freedom of inquiry.

The patents on the BRCA genes have serious implications because mutations along these genes are responsible for most cases of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. Genetic tests can detect these mutations and tell women if they are at increased risk of cancer, which in turn informs their decisions about screening, prevention and treatment options. In addition, this case could have far-reaching effects beyond the BRCA genes because it challenges the fundamental notion of gene patenting. Twenty percent of human genes have been patented, including genes associated with Alzheimer's disease, muscular dystrophy, colon cancer, and asthma.

To read the complaint, plaintiff statements, and much more about the case, visit www.aclu.org/brca.

— By Selene Kaye, Advocacy Coordinator, ACLU Women's Rights Project and Sandra Park, Staff Attorney, ACLU Women's Rights Project

Permalink |	Free Speech, Women's Rights

1. Paen Says:
   May 22nd, 2009 at 1:33pm

   I wonder what God must think of this.

2. lawlwut Says:
   May 24th, 2009 at 3:49pm

   First, @ Paen, STFU.

   Second, don't we have plenty of prior art? I mean, these things have been around for about 200,000 years(Source is Wikipedia).

3. TLW Says:
   May 24th, 2009 at 6:19pm

   Does patenting genes violate the Constitutional prohibition against slavery?

4. God Says:
   May 24th, 2009 at 6:34pm

   I am disappointed.

5. Travis Says:
   May 25th, 2009 at 2:09am

   I can only hope that our Supreme Court gets it right. Patenting life - as has been done on human, animal, and plant genomes - is utterly untenable as public policy. It simply cannot stand.

6. Uncle B Says:
   May 25th, 2009 at 11:58am

   The precedent was set by Microsoft, the patenting of language, then followed by Monsanto and the seed fiasco leaves me to believe that America and Americans will be under different and better circumstances, once the Chinese refuse loans to float our peculiar style of unregulated vulture capitalism, and close down Washington D.C., the lobbiests, and corporate bullshit, selling out corrupt judges and lawyers by re-writing our laws, to conform to theirs, and letting us go free - free of the horrendous load this society places on the backs of its folk, the day they are born! No! I don't want to die in the sands of a foreign country for the amusement of Sheiks and Princes! No! It is not fair to ask me to support a system owned and operated for the enrichment of patent holders, and the "Entitled". No! I do not need to pay with my life's work for fixed price gasoline for a planned obsolescence nightmare and crooked payment plans called a car, just to get to work! No! I do not want to pay taxes on property bound by by-laws that allow only "permitted" folk and permitted procedures to profit from work done there. Patenting genes is the way of the Uber-Rich to purchase control greater than that of even color over American citizens, and own them outright. It will happen, however, because, only in America does the size of the ball of cash in your fist outweigh human rights, and your willingness to bribe authority pave your way to untold riches and control - See Bill Gates for verification and validations, don't believe me! Check out the crimes of Monsanto on this very web, don't take my word! Keep the web free! It is our last hope in a sick, sick world.

7. Hans Says:
   May 26th, 2009 at 9:36am

   If this trials fails, what s next? Patenting brown hair og blue eyes?

8. Chris Says:
   May 26th, 2009 at 12:09pm

   I dont understand how they can allow patents on genes considering the scientists didn't make the genes, they only discovered them.

9. Cyclonus Says:
   May 26th, 2009 at 2:42pm

   How can anybody patent things that already exist. It just stops other companies to further the research into finding a cure.

10. Feryl Says:
    May 26th, 2009 at 4:23pm

    The emotional response is to instantly reject gene patenting. I agree the system is flawed.
    But I can't think of any other way to let private corporations profit off of their gene research. No profit, of course, means no future research. The work needs to be done, but someone has to pay for it.

11. DanielnFL Says:
    Jun 3rd, 2009 at 11:59am

    Lets look at the long term implications of this continuing, 1. Society would be divided into two more classes, the haves(who can afford the the gene-hook up) and those that cant(have-nots). (Not so good IMHO.) 2. This would create a "Black Market" of human gene testing with trial and error as the only means of getting it right causing more unneeded suffering to humans. We put our selves through enough torture through wars, politics, and ignorance. Do we need to repeat our mistakes from the past for the pursuit of money, again? Personally WE need to make a plan, an outline of what public money needs to invest in for the common good of all, and encourage growth in those areas. Time has told us that their will be abuse of anything, including genetics, our responsibility is to have foresight and head these things off so that our future is isn't plagued with our mistakes from the past. What do you think? Or do you?

12. Jennifer Casebolt Says:
    Jun 4th, 2009 at 10:32am

    Dear America,
    My families patent on genes in this country, under the Human Genome Project and other unconstitutional laws is for the purpose of slavery and abuse. The purposes based on lies, and deceit, and tyranny, and not to mention, for the use of the oldest science in the history of our World. Every law has been broken, they use us for everything. Tyranny is now happening in our lives. As for children, they are abusing my children, and not one person where I live that has power cares to stop any of their crimes. America has broken evey law ever ivented. My family and I need an attorney and an investigatin by the ACLU. The DOJ of Justice is even ignoring us. I have not found one person who cares or has the courage to take on this case. The DOJ has ignored us. No one seems to know what kind of case to make our case. So, would someone find the answers for us and get us into court. Believe it or not our case is one that is tainted to the most highest levels of life. So as for children and slavery, that is what we are for. The state of OK, and the state of Wy, has broken these laws as well as the whole country!

13. Jennifer Casebolt Says:
    Jun 4th, 2009 at 10:38am

    Our patent is for brain, heart, lung, and dna. Why is everyone esle in the country getting into court except for my family. All of our righs have been ignored by WHO, the United Nations, the Pentagon, and the Soveirgn, along with the President and Congress. The FBI, or any other agent will fight for our rights. The Doj of justice printed up paper work thinking we are going to continue to be their slaves, meanwhile our lives are put in danger. Why are we not worth getting into a court room, and living a good moral life with out the presents of a bunch of lieing hypocrites.

14. Jennifer Casebolt Says:
    Jun 4th, 2009 at 10:53am

    Everything I have learned about needing a ACLU attorney, and my life is very upsetting. They claim they use the poor. They have stolen everyhing from my family with tyranny, the state of NY, the state of OK, and the state of Wy. Someone needs to help us please. My children whom are a teens are forced to live in tyranny. Would someone please inestigate our case, and for warming trust me and my kids. Not the liars around the whole generation of slavery and abuse that has been forced onto my normal DNA.

15. Jennifer Casebolt Says:
    Jun 4th, 2009 at 11:05am

    Dear ACLU,
    I have the most disappointing feeling that I will again for another generation be ignored. Every law that has been written in our history since all this power came into light. I have been a victim of. My family seriously needs a lawsuit to be set free. I just don't know what kind of lawsuit the DOJ, and or Congress is going to even try to make it. I wish someone would responde to us. I am still nothing but a slave, and being used for torture. Although, no one cares. I have been all over this country, and after several years of torture and tyranny for the study of the brain, mostly, I still only get ignored. Please someone responde to my question and fight to end this project in my family. We are normal. Evidence of this is in Watertown, New York. The blew up my mother's and brother's brain with thorzine for science research, fight after they killed my dad in 1979. Doctor's across the whole country are still blowing up and killing beautiful brains, without doing cat scans or any other evaluations. I need your help. WHO- and this whole Federation of Scintists is nothing but a bunch of liars. Please help us.

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