Today: Patenting Life *Exam #2 Th 3/26 Monsanto Stock price

Many Questions, but Few Answers? Are herbicide or insect resistant plants safe to eat? Are GM foods safe for the environment? Are GM foods profitable for: –Consumers, Farmers, and Companies?

% of Total US Acres Common GM Crops in the U.S. ce/2007/09/mon santo-is- hap.html

Herbicide Tolerance; Insect Resistance; Viral Resistance Types of Genetically Modified Crops

Patents give 20 year monopoly for inventor

Three types of U.S. patents: 1) Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof; 2) Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and 3) Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.

Examples of current patents: Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties

Examples of current patents: Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties Evolutec has patents on proteins in tick saliva for use as anti-inflammatory

Examples of current patents: Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties Evolutec has patents on proteins in tick saliva for use as anti-inflammator GTG in Australia has patents on non-coding human DNA for detecting risk of various diseases

Examples of current patents: Atryn- antithrombin produced in transgenic goats (in milk) has anti-clotting properties Evolutec has patents on proteins in tick saliva for use as anti-inflammatory GTG in Australia has patents on non-coding human DNA for detecting risk af various diseases Over 70 U.S. patents for use of Indian neem tree

Neem, say the women, helps babies sleep, keeps flies away, is a cosmetic, a disinfectant and a pesticide. Its leaves make good cattle fodder, its twigs are good for teeth and gums. It is used, they say, for snake bites, malaria, hysteria, high blood pressure, pain relief, skin diseases and a host of other ailments. Over 70 U.S. patents for use of Indian neem tree

Neem, say the women, helps babies sleep, keeps flies away, is a cosmetic, a disinfectant and a pesticide. Its leaves make good cattle fodder, its twigs are good for teeth and gums. It is used, they say, for snake bites, malaria, hysteria, high blood pressure, pain relief, skin diseases and a host of other ailments. Over 70 U.S. patents for use of Indian neem tree One was rejected due to previous use in indigenous Indian culture

Concerns of developing nations vs. industrialized countries Bioprospecting

Lack of research on third world problems. (tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, dysentery… Not profitable. Bioprospecting