Question

In 2010, a U.S. District Judge ruled to invalidate Myriad Genetics' patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Judge Sweet noted that since the genes are part of the natural world, they are not patentable. Myriad Genetics also holds patents on the development of a direct-to-consumer test for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Would you agree with the ruling to invalidate the patenting of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes? If you were asked to judge the patenting of the direct-to-consumer test for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, how would you rule?

Accepted Answer

Hello, everyone. Here we have a question asking what is the controversy over patenting the, the BRACA one and BRACA two genes about. So the BRACA one and Baraka two genes linked to an increased chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer mutations in these genes can have serious repercussions for the affected individuals and their families. So let's look at our options. A ethical issues, concerns about patient autonomy, privacy, access to information and treatment may give rise to ethical questions. So a is correct be legal issues, legal issues may involve balancing the interests of the public and private sectors as well as the interpretation and enforcement of intellectual property rights. So B is correct. See, scientific issues, scientific worries could relate to the effect of gene patents on scientific innovation and research as well as problems with the precision and dependability of genetic testing. So C is correct. So our answer here is D all of the above. Thank you for watching. Bye.

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