Is Commerce Blocking Science?

[dArKeR]

Each year, millions of mice are genetically engineered to precisely mimic human cancers - a technology that could lead to the swift development of new and targeted treatments.

But many researchers complain that progress is being slowed by commerce. That's because E.I. duPont de Nemours and Co. lays broad intellectual-property claims to drug discoveries made with just about any animal genetically engineered to be prone to just about any cancer.

DuPont and Harvard claim the terms are typical of such arrangements between industry and academia and aren't particularly onerous. But many researchers and other university patent officials allege that DuPont charges high fees, sets strict conditions and aggressively polices its broad rights, often to the detriment of science.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/11/01/tech/main581313.shtml

[mastein]

1. Genetically altered mice

Through the years that I worked in bio tech (92-97) I heard several stories from differnt researchers. DuPont is not the sole source for some of these mice. Different strains were developed concurrently and when I left the field the rights were still being sorted out on several "breeds" including several of mice developed at NIH and are available to researchers through much less onerous means.

[Avalon Sparks]

2. Here's a thought~

The fundies and megacorporations need to keep their noses out of scientific research.