I was shocked and rather amazed by this article. Not for what it’s talking about directly; I mean, I’m rather interested in legal proceedings and what not, but that’s not the most important part of this. The important part is the hints about how much of the industry is based on this concept.

Patenting genes. I mean, I can see how it’s big business. Myriad Genetics patents two breast cancer genes so that they are the only ones who can research it. Brilliant business move, but doesn’t it miss the point? Shouldn’t everyone capable of finding a cure for cancer be working on that holy grail of the medical community? But no, at least as it related to these two potential genes, only one company could work on it.

I can’t wait for the day they move from patents to copyrights. You’ll have to pay the company a dollar every time you exhibit a trait owned by whomever. Really, I should get in on this. I need to find the genes relating to sarcasm, patent them, copyright them, and charge everyone in the world a dollar any time sarcasm is used. I’d be rich.