Supreme court ruling - Triumph or disaster

[koala]

Just heard about this ruling about this gene. Basically it means that none of the genetic material can be patented in Australia. That has immediate repercussions to many things like treatments and testing. For instance using the PCR method one would have to pay patent money because the polymerase used produced by those bacteria in the Yellowstone is patented. As Cancer is a disease where the DNA is damaged virtually all the effective cancer treatments would involve genes. In the same time we know that virtually all the research and drugs are produced in the US where patenting life is legal. Would that put us in a black-out situation where the pharma companies will deny, hinder or delay medication and treatments? What do you think? Koala

[koala]

Just a clarification: In US the so called complementary and synthetic DNA is patented and it's used by genetics companies.

[Jules2]

Sounds a bit of a worry, not that I know much about it.