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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is the Technology Report. |
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The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that businesses cannot |
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control the rights to human genes in their natural state. |
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Patients' rights groups are calling the decision a victory. |
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The court, however, left room to protect the patent ownership rights |
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on some other important biotechnology applications. |
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The court's decision was in a case involving |
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the biotechnology company Myriad Genetics. |
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The company had identified human genes |
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that increase a woman's risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. |
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The company applied for and was given exclusive rights |
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over the use of those genes. |
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Attorney Sandra Park works with the American Civil Liberties Union. |
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She says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office |
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has been allowing patents on some DNA for 30 years. |
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"What was problematic about these patents was that Myriad |
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was able to use those patents to stop other laboratories |
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from providing genetic testing, |
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even when those other laboratories were using different methods." |
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Miss Park says that means that genetic testing |
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for increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer |
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cost more because of the lack of competition. |
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And she says the gene patent prevented patients |
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from getting a second medical opinion based on some other test. |
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But the Supreme Court has now rejected this type of patent, |
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all nine justices agreed that because genes are products of nature, |
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they can not be owned by one business. |
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Lisbeth Ceriani helped bring the case against Myriad. |
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She is a breast cancer survivor who struggled to pay for Myriad's test. |
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"Our genes are not being held hostage by a private corporation anymore. |
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We have the right to know that our doctor |
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can look at our own genes to see what information is there." |
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Health activists say the ruling will lower costs |
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and improve testing for breast and ovarian cancer, |
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and other conditions for which companies have gene patents. |
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Myriad Genetics also created man made versions of the genes |
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and patented those, too. |
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These versions are called complimentary DNA or cDNA. |
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For example, cDNA is used to make insulin to treat people with diabetes. |
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The Supreme Court said patents on such man made genes |
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are permitted because cDNA does not exist in nature. |
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Jennifer Swize is a lawyer for Myriad Genetics. |
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"To Myriad, the decision is a win. For all practical purposes, |
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companies like Myriad use the cDNA claims to do their testing." |
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Myriad's stock price grows after the Supreme Court gave its ruling on June, 13th, |
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this suggested that investors saw the decision |
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as a good one for the biotechology industry. |
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And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English, |
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written by Onka Dekker. |