HUGO Statement on Patenting of DNA Sequences
The Human Genome Organisation (HUGO) has released a statement on the
patenting of DNA sequences. The statement summary reads, "HUGO (The
Human Genome Organisation) is worried that the patenting of partial and
uncharacterized cDNA sequences will reward those who make routine
discoveries but penalize those who determine biological function or
application. Such an outcome would impede the development of diagnostics
and therapeutics, which is clearly not in the public interest. HUGO is
also dedicated to the early release of genome information, thus
accelerating widespread investigation of functional aspects of genes.
This statement explains our concerns."
The statement was authored by Dr. C. Thomas Caskey (President of HUGO),
Prof. Rebecca S. Eisenberg (University of Michigan Law School), Dr. Eric
Lander (Whitehead Institute) and Prof. Joseph Straus (Max Planck
Institute). The statement was approved by the HUGO Council. It will be
printed in an upcoming issue of the HUGO Europe Genome Digest and is
available as hardcopy or in electronic format from the HUGO Americas office,
- 7986D Old Georgetown Road
- Bethesda, MD 20814
- 301-654-1477
- Fax: 301-652-3368
- hugo@gdb.org
Last Update: March 27, 1995
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