Commercial Implications of Human Genome Project
Patents of Human Genome Project
The patentability of inventions under U.S. law is determined by the Patent and
Trademark Office ( USPTO ) in the Department of Commerce. A patent application is
judged on four criteria.
Useful
The inventor must identify some useful purpose for it.
Novel
The invention is not known before the filing.
Nonobvious
The invention is not an improvement easily made by someone trained in the relevant
area.
Enablement
The invention also must be described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the
field to use if for the stated purpose.
Importance of patents
Patents are very important for the researchers as researchers are rewarded for their
discoveries so that the can use monies gained from patenting to further their research.
The investment of resources is encouraged by providing a monopoly to the inventor
and prohibiting competitor from making, using, or selling the invention without a
license. Wasteful duplication of effort is also prevented. Research if forced into new,
unexplored areas. Moreover, secrecy is reduced and all researchers are ensured access
top the new invention.
Patents about single nucleotide ( SNPs ) are very important. SNPs are DNA sequence
variations that occur when a single nucleotide ( A,T, G or C ) in the genome sequence
is altered. Variations in DNA sequence can have a major impact on how human
respond to disease; environmental insults such as bacteria, viruses, toxins and
chemicals; and drugs and other therapies. As a result, there is a great value of SNPs to
develop pharmaceutical products or medical diagnostics. So, pharmaceutical can
make a great profit on new drugs and medicines. In 1999 April, ten large
pharmaceutical companies and the UK Wellcome Trust philanthropy announced the
establishment of a non-profit foundation to find and map 300000 common SNPs. The
aim of those companies is not to make a profit but to prevent others from patenting
the same information.
Commercial opportunities of Human Genome Project
It is predicted that life sciences may become the largest sector in the US economy as
there is limitless applications cross boundaries from medicine and food to energy and
environmental resources of HGP. Many of the companies, such as IBM, Compaq,
DuPont and major pharmaceutical companies are among those interested in the
potential for targeting and applying genome data. Due to the commercial
opportunities of HGP, the private sector participation is quite large. The area of
economy included the following : Clinical medicine : many more individualized
diagnostics and prognostics, drugs and other therapies. Agriculture and livestock :
hardier, more nutritious and healthier crops and animals. Industrial processes :
cleaner and more efficient manufacturing in such sectors as chemicals, pulp and paper,
textiles, food, fuels, metals and minerals. Environmental biotechnology :
biodegradable products, new energy resources, environmental diagnostics and less
hazardous cleanup of mixed toxic-waste sites. DNA fingerprinting : identification of
human and other animals, plants and microbes; evolutionary and human
anthropological studies; and detection of and resistance to harmful agent that might be
used in biological warfare.
Many companies furnish valuable commercial services that the government could not
provide, such as Celera Genomics, Incyte and Human Genome Science. The
contribution of NIH and the Wellcome Trust on the United Kingdom are equally
important. The taxes returned by private companies’ successes easily repay
fundamental public investments.
Great contribution of Genetically Modified ( GM ) foods
Genetically Modified ( GM ) is the technologies of altering the genetic makeup of
living things, such as animals, plants and bacteria. Recombinant DNA technology is
the technology that combining genes from different organisms. The main use of this
technology is on food and the purpose is to conferring is insect resistance or desired
nutrients to the food. By the use of this technology, GM crops are grown
commercially over 40 countries and on 6 continents. The crops include
insecticide-resistance soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. There is also grow of sweet
potato resistance to virus. This largely increase the growth of crop. The growth of rice
with increased iron and vitamins may alleviate chronic malnutrition on Asian
countries. Apart from insect resistance and nutrients, the maturation time of crops can
also be reduced.
Moreover, GM food also provide medical use. For example, on the horizon are
bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases such a hepatitis B.
As the growing populations of crops greatly increase, the income of agricultural
countries also increase.
However, there are also controversies of GM food. The problem that most people
concern about is safety. Some people may have unknown allergens to GM food. This
can be very dangerous and can also be fatal. As a result, there should be label of food
which is GM food to provide choice to customers. However, there is no mandatory is
some countries ( e.g., United States ). Apart from these, there is also international
problem. The production of world food will be dominated by a few companies
because of the limited technology. It also may increase dependence of industralized
nations by developing countries.
Career of Human Genome Project
Because of the develop of HGP, the biotechnology industry has more than tripled in
size between 1992 and 2001. The revenue also increase from $ 8 billion to $ 27.6
billion. In 2001, there were 191000 US employees and more opportunities are
expected in healthcare, food production, and environmental cleanup. In the following
is different kind of careers greatly contribute to the economy. The two main area is
medicine and agriculture. Medicine : this include medical genetics, genetic
counseling, genetic nursing, gene testing, gene therapy, organ transplantation, fertility
reproduction and public health. It also include pharmacogenomics, chemical, vaccine,
medicine development and production. Agriculture and wildlife : this include
generic modification of foods and seeds, biopesticide and neutriceutical development,
wildlife management including identification, protection of endangered species and
authentication of consumables such as wine , caviar.
Reference : http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_genome/