Patents On Synthetic Life "Extremely Damaging"

[tommywho70x]

good old geeknews network. this is an element of the story that was missing from the MSM accounts.

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| Patents On Synthetic Life "Extremely Damaging" |
| from the that-gene-right-there-that-one's-mine dept. |
| posted by kdawson on Tuesday May 25, @08:12 (Biotech) |
| https://science.slashdot.org/story/10/05/25/0059236/Patents-On-Synthetic-Life-Extremely-Dam|
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An anonymous reader writes "Pioneer and veteran of genomics Professor
John Sulston is extremely [0]concerned about the patent applications on
the first synthetic life-form. The patents were filed by the Venter
Institute following the announcement of the [1]first life-form to have a
synthetic genome. Sulston claims the patent is excessively broad and
would stifle research and development in the field by creating an
effective monopoly on synthetic life and related molecular techniques.
Prof. Sulston had previously locked horns ten years ago with Dr. Craig
Venter over intellectual property issues surrounding the human genome
project. Fortunately, Sulston won the last round and the HGP is freely
accessible — Venter had wanted to charge for access, just as he now
wishes to make 'synthetic life' proprietary."

Discuss this story at:
Slashdot Comments | Patents On Synthetic Life "Extremely Damaging"

Links:
0. BBC News - Synthetic life patents 'damaging'
1. Slashdot Science Story | Synthetic Genome Drives Bacterial Cell