Gene-Patent Clash Prods U.S. Court to Seek Research Middle Path
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A U.S. Supreme Court clash over the patenting of human genes left several justices searching for a middle ground in a case with the potential to redefine rights in the biotechnology and agricultural industries.
The justices, hearing arguments yesterday in Washington, discussed chocolate-chip cookie recipes, baseball bats and Amazonian plants while grappling with a challenge to Myriad Genetics Inc.’s patents on genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer. A group of doctors, patients and scientists say the patents are stifling clinical testing and research.