4th Article: Gene Patents

This article points out the interesting fact that hundreds of private firms and universities have paid to claim patents on certain human genes. This article states that "more than 4,000 genes, or 20 percent of the almost 24,000 human genes, have been claimed in U.S. patents." That seems like a lot of genes to me. Of course this wouldn't have a direct effect on us, but it would definately slow down research that could someday lead to medical advances.