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This is the struggle of the internet all over again. We'll need to have personal genome sequencers, and control and protect the flow of our genetic information

This is the struggle of the internet all over again. We'll need to have personal genome sequencers, and control and protect the flow of our genetic information, just like we need to control the flow of our speech and sites visited. Right now a company owns the rights to the genome marker which is responsible for breast cancer. http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130713/01171423788/myriad-mocks-supreme-courts-ruling-gene-patents-sues-new-competitors-doing-breast-cancer-tests.shtml http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130713/01171423788/myriad... This means nobody can check their genome for potential breast cancer without paying this company a tax. Again, this is only data. We will have genome marker piracy soon enough, where people will be exchanging databases of genetic markers, and biopirates who help people bypass the power structures that want to own the genome markers.

uncoder0 13y ago
This was overturned in court.[1][2] [1]http://bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-scotus-overturns-human-gene-patents/?printerfriendly http://bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-sco... [2]http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/supreme-court-invalidates-patents-breast-and-ovarian-cancer-genes http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/supreme-court-invalidates-...
- aheilbut 13y ago
  Sort of, but there are still numerous patents on BRCA testing that were not part of the SCOTUS ruling, which Myriad is continuing to try to enforce: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-09/myriad-genetics-sues-ambry-to-halt-rival-breast-cancer-test-1 http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-09/myriad-genetics-... There really need to be some kind of novel legal structures to cover this kind of testing. There do need to be incentives (temporary monopolies) for companies to discover, develop and validate tests, because it is expensive and takes a long time. On the other hand, there should be incentives to disseminate useful tests as quickly as possible at a fair price, and there shouldn't be undue restrictions on research. But it can't be a free-for-all either.
mcculley 13y ago
I agree that there will be some interesting disruption when personal genome sequencers are available. I'm not convinced that changes the struggle. I think it makes it more likely that everybody's genome will be sequenced and publicly available as it is hard to not inadvertently leave DNA somewhere.

uncoder0 13y ago

This was overturned in court.[1][2] [1]http://bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-scotus-overturns-human-gene-patents/?printerfriendly http://bcaction.org/2013/06/13/breast-cancer-action-wins-sco... [2]http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/supreme-court-invalidates-patents-breast-and-ovarian-cancer-genes http://www.aclu.org/womens-rights/supreme-court-invalidates-...

aheilbut 13y ago
Sort of, but there are still numerous patents on BRCA testing that were not part of the SCOTUS ruling, which Myriad is continuing to try to enforce: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-09/myriad-genetics-sues-ambry-to-halt-rival-breast-cancer-test-1 http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-09/myriad-genetics-... There really need to be some kind of novel legal structures to cover this kind of testing. There do need to be incentives (temporary monopolies) for companies to discover, develop and validate tests, because it is expensive and takes a long time. On the other hand, there should be incentives to disseminate useful tests as quickly as possible at a fair price, and there shouldn't be undue restrictions on research. But it can't be a free-for-all either.

mcculley 13y ago

I agree that there will be some interesting disruption when personal genome sequencers are available. I'm not convinced that changes the struggle. I think it makes it more likely that everybody's genome will be sequenced and publicly available as it is hard to not inadvertently leave DNA somewhere.