How Gene Patents May Inhibit Scientific Research

Authors

  • Lisa Campo-Engelstein Alden March Bioethics Institute, OBGYN Department, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
  • Tiffany Chan Department of Radiology, Penn State University Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7202/1035490ar

Keywords:

gene patents, scientific research, culture of secrecy, multigenic diseases, patent thicket

Language(s):

English

Abstract

In this paper, we point out three possible ways gene patents could impede scientific research. First, gene patent laws might exacerbate the culture of secrecy ubiquitous in science. Second, gene patents may limit researchers’ ability to study poly or multigenic diseases without access to all genetic etiologies. Third, gene patents could result in a “patent thicket”.

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Published

2015-02-10

Issue

Vol. 4 (2015)

Section

Commentary

License

Copyright (c) 2015 Lisa Campo-Engelstein, Tiffany Chan

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.