Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms

Biotechnology is one of the most promising fields of technology, especially since molecular biology methods have enhanced our knowledge of genes, their structure, and their action. This knowledge makes it possible to change genetic material and construct new varieties of cultural plants and animals for various purposes such as nutrition, scientific and medical experimentation, and treatment of human diseases. Such inventions may even include human genes. The understandable desire to have legal protection in this domain has created new problems - especially from the viewpoint of the law and acquiring patents for these new inventions. These problems are under wide discussion and are often controversial. This volume provides a unique overview of the current problems and opinions in this controversial field. Front Matter....Pages I-X Introduction....Pages 1-4 Begrüßung....Pages 5-5 Welcoming Address....Pages 6-6 Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms — A Nightmare for the Scientist....Pages 7-11 Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms — The Legal Situation in Europe....Pages 12-29 Remarks on “Technology Transfer and the Genome Program”....Pages 30-34 Intellectual Property in the Field of Life Sciences....Pages 43-51 Legal Protection of Living Organisms from the Point of View of Scientists in Animal Breeding....Pages 65-75 Legal Protection of Living Organisms from the Point of View of Scientists in Plant Breeding....Pages 76-78 “Patenting” of Living Organisms — Patents and Plant Breeders’ Rights — From the Point of View of Plant Breeders....Pages 79-85 Genetic Diversity and the Indian Seed Industry....Pages 86-93 Patenting Living Organisms and Their Parts: The Point of View of Science Administration....Pages 94-105 Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms The Current Practice of the European Patent Office....Pages 106-112 Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms: An Ethical Point of View....Pages 133-143 The Patenting of Genes and Living Organisms: The South’s View....Pages 155-168 Patenting of Human Genes and Living Organisms: The Socio-Political Situation in the United States of America....Pages 169-176 The Human Renin-Angiotensin-System in Transgenic Rats....Pages 185-196 Which Rules of Patenting are Acceptable from the Point of View of Industry?....Pages 197-204 Patentability of Human Genes and Living Organisms: Principles of a Possible International Understanding....Pages 205-219 What Does Pharmaceutical Industry Expect of Patenting Human Genes and Living Organisms?....Pages 220-223 Back Matter....Pages 232-244