Against the patenting genes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Against the patenting genes - Essay Example This is essential for assessing the predisposition of the patients to cancer. Legalization of gene patents is regressive not only to the medical research but also to the independence and growth of research centers or countries other than the one to which patent protection has been provided. It is, indeed, sad, that â€Å"some genetic tests can’t be done in Canada because U.S. companies hold patents on the tests and the genes and have threatened legal action if the patents are violated by doing the tests in Canada, rather than the U.S.† (CBC News, 2014). Legalization of gene patents has resulted in patenting of a significant number of genes. There are total 30,000 genes in humans and 8,000 of them have already been patented (Wagner, 2009). This means that the number of genes that can be tested upon for identification of cure for diseases has been reduced significantly. So gene patenting should not be