Patents, Morality and DNA: Should there be Intellectual Property Protection of the Human Genome Project?:

This article examines the appropriateness of using existing patent laws in various jurisdictions in an effort to secure protection of the work currently being carried out on the Human Genome Project. Certain ethical and practical problems which arise from current practices in Europe, USA and Japan are explored.It is submitted that the nature of the problems are such that it might be appropriate to consider alternative means of rewarding those involved in unravelling human DNA. An attempt is made to outline some appropriate matters to consider in developing such an alternative.