Today: Patenting Life

*Exam #2 Th 3/26

Monsanto Stock price

http://research.scottrade.com/public/stocks/snapshot/snapshot.asp

Many Questions, but Few Answers?

• Are herbicide or insect resistant plants safe to eat?

• Are GM foods safe for the environment?

• Are GM foods profitable for:– Consumers, Farmers, and Companies?

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esCommon GM Crops in the U.S.

http://blog.wired.com/

wiredscience/2007/09/

monsanto-is-hap.html

Herbicide Tolerance; Insect Resistance; Viral Resistance

Types of Genetically Modified Crops

Patents give 20 year monopoly for inventor

www.uspto.gov

Three types of U.S. patents:1) Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof;

2) Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and

3) Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.

www.uspto.gov

Examples of current patents:

•Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties

Examples of current patents:

•Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties

•Evolutec has patents on proteins in tick saliva for use as anti-inflammatory

Examples of current patents:

•Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties

•Evolutec has patents on proteins in tick saliva for use as anti-inflammator

•GTG in Australia has patents on non-coding human DNA for detecting risk of various diseases

Examples of current patents:

•Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties

•Evolutec has patents on proteins in tick saliva for use as anti-inflammatory

•GTG in Australia has patents on non-coding human DNA for detecting risk af various diseases

•Over 70 U.S. patents for use of Indian neem tree

Neem, say the women, helps babies sleep, keeps flies away, is a cosmetic, a disinfectant and a pesticide. Its leaves make good cattle fodder, its twigs are good for teeth and gums. It is used, they say, for snake bites, malaria, hysteria, high blood pressure, pain relief, skin diseases and a host of other ailments.

Over 70 U.S. patents for use of Indian neem tree

Neem, say the women, helps babies sleep, keeps flies away, is a cosmetic, a disinfectant and a pesticide. Its leaves make good cattle fodder, its twigs are good for teeth and gums. It is used, they say, for snake bites, malaria, hysteria, high blood pressure, pain relief, skin diseases and a host of other ailments.

Over 70 U.S. patents for use of Indian neem tree

One was rejected due to previous use in indigenous Indian culture

Concerns of developing nations vs. industrialized countries

Bioprospecting

Lack of research on third world problems.(tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, dysentery…Not profitable.

Bioprospecting