Score One For Science

In school I was never that great at handling the details of science.  Math eludes me and chemical or physics formulas break me.  Yet my natural ineptitude at engaging in it has not robbed me of my love for reading popular science books.  I may not always grasp all of the arithmetic, but I usually get the big picture.

One great book that I recently read was James Watson’s DNA: The Secret of Life.  Watson wrote about private companies patenting genes that they’ve discovered and I’ve been ticked off ever since.  I understand that they need to make a buck, but how can you patent a gene?  Unless your name is “Natural Selection,” you didn’t have much to do with creating them.

The ability to patent genes has cost many people a great deal of money.  For example, women seeking to be tested for an genetically increased risk for ovarian or breast cancer were squeezed for thousands of dollars by Myriad Genetics.  Last March a federal judge invalidated such patents.  Now researchers from a variety of institutions can began to do open research into these genes.

As the case goes to appeal, the Obama administration has filed an amicus brief opposing the patents.  The president promised to defend science and reason.  With this move he’s kept his word.

I assume people who read this blog are as into science as I am, so for those looking for more information, you’ll find it in a post by Greg Mayer at Jerry Coyne’s blog.