Europe PMC
Do data resources managed by EMBL-EBI and our collaborators make a difference to your work?
If so, please take 10 minutes to fill in our survey, and help us make the case for why sustaining open data resources is critical for life sciences research.

This website requires cookies, and the limited processing of your personal data in order to function. By using the site you are agreeing to this as outlined in our privacy notice and cookie policy.

Abstract 


Since the establishment of the Human Genome Project and the identification of genes in human DNA that play a role in human diseases and disorders, a long, moral and political, battle has began over the extension of IPRs to information contained in human genetic material. According to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, over the past 20 years, large numbers of human genes have been the subject of thousands of patent applications. This paper examines whether human gene patents can be justified in terms of liberal theories of morality such as natural law, personality development, just reward and social utility. It is argued that human gene patents are in conflict with fundamental principles of liberal morality and justice because they result in "genetic information feudalism".

Free full text 


Logo of gensocpolSpringerOpen.comThis journalPublisherThis journalTOC AlertsSubmit onlineAims
Genom Soc Policy. 2008 Dec; 4(3): 64.
Published online 2008 Dec 15. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-5354-4-3-64
PMCID: PMC5424975

Human Gene Patents and the Question of Liberal Morality

Abstract

Since the establishment of the Human Genome Project and the identification of genes in human DNA that play a role in human diseases and disorders, a long, moral and political, battle has began over the extension of IPRs to information contained in human genetic material. According to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, over the past 20 years, large numbers of human genes have been the subject of thousands of patent applications. This paper examines whether human gene patents can be justified in terms of liberal theories of morality such as natural law, personality development, just reward and social utility. It is argued that human gene patents are in conflict with fundamental principles of liberal morality and justice because they result in "genetic information feudalism".

Footnotes

Note

please consult PDF for full article


Articles from Genomics, Society, and Policy are provided here courtesy of Springer-Verlag