Letter: Patents unlock gene secrets

Wednesday 16 July 1997 19:02 EDT

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Sir: During the 18th and 19th centuries, chemists identified and isolated most of the chemical elements, the basic building blocks of the universe. Would we have been happy if they had then patented their discoveries? No, we would have been outraged. I suggest we should respond similarly to attempts to patent the "elements" of life.

ANDREW BELSEY

Centre for Applied Ethics

University of Wales

Cardiff

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Letter: Patents unlock gene secrets

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