Results: Patenting Genes
1.
1.
Have you heard about the ACLU lawsuit concerning the patenting of human genes? Yes
15%
•
261 votes
No
85%
•
1480 votes
2.
2.
How do you feel about the patenting of human genes? I feel that it's okay. Someone had to decode it, thus it falls under intellectual property. What someone does with their property is up to them.
10%
•
182 votes
I don't think it's okay. Genes are a product of nature. You can't patent the Higgs Boson; you can't patent genes.
38%
•
670 votes
I feel both sides have valid arguments.
13%
•
223 votes
I have no strong opinions either way.
38%
•
666 votes
3.
3.
Myriad Genetics Inc. is poised to patent the gene associated with breast cancer, giving it a monopoly. How do feel about this? It's not okay for a company to do this. It impedes research, has no cheap alternatives, and is ethically unsound. It is part of the "commons," like the air we breath or the energy from the sun.
40%
•
695 votes
I think it's okay. It's someone's intellectual property and they have the right to do what they want with that information.
10%
•
174 votes
Still going with "I see it both ways."
14%
•
238 votes
I still have no strong opinions one way or the other.
36%
•
634 votes
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