Nobody patented "a human cell". What can get patented is the method for creating this cell line. Here's the classic (and controversial, but for different reason

Nobody patented "a human cell". What can get patented is the method for creating this cell line. Here's the classic (and controversial, but for different reasons) patent related to the Mo cell line (T-lymphoblasts): http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4438032.html http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4438032.html These cell lines do not exist in nature and what is patented was the creation of a new immortalized cell line.