Genes Patent

An Australian cancer survivor today triumphed in a landmark challenge against medical research companies, with the country's top court ruling they could not patent a gene linked to breast cancer.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled partially for Myriad Genetics Inc on the closely watched issue of whether human genes can be patented, deciding synthetically produced genetic material can be patented but naturally occurring DNA cannot.

The Supreme Court grapples Monday with the question of whether human genes can be patented, and the ultimate answer could reshape U.S. medical research, the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian cancer and the multi-billion dollar medical and biotechnology business.

An Australian cancer survivor today triumphed in a landmark challenge against medical research companies, with the country's top court ruling they could not patent a gene linked to breast cancer.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled partially for Myriad Genetics Inc on the closely watched issue of whether human genes can be patented, deciding synthetically produced genetic material can be patented but naturally occurring DNA cannot.

The Supreme Court grapples Monday with the question of whether human genes can be patented, and the ultimate answer could reshape U.S. medical research, the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian cancer and the multi-billion dollar medical and biotechnology business.