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BRT has talked often about the absurdity of companies patenting genes as seen in a post titled titled Reducto ad Absurdum asking the question of how can a company patent something that A: they did not build and B: said something, DNA, exists in every living thing on planet Earth even though 40,000 genes have been privatized, thanks to the stupidity of the patent office. To that end, some researchers are starting to question this absurdity when it comes to cancer and how one company has been patenting genes regarding this horrible disease and will not share life saving data about it. 

With 17 years of experience, millions of tests looking for thousands of mutations in the genes, and a $500 million investment, the company was able to amass a huge database that tells which DNA changes increase cancer risk and by how much, and which are inconsequential blips in DNA. And it is keeping that data to itself.

Some genetics researchers are furious and have now figured out a way to get the data anyway. Every time Myriad sends out a report on a gene test, it specifies not just the mutations it found but also what they mean. As a result, Myriad’s data on each of the mutations is scattered in millions of reports in the hands of doctors and patients. If the geneticists could just gather those reports, they say, they can recreate Myriad’s database.

So they started a grass-roots project, Sharing Clinical Reports, and are asking cancer clinics and doctors to provide them with all the Myriad data they have from patients who have been tested.

Needless to say, this egregious violation of common sense must be rectified, and soon, as people's lives are at stake, something I hope the Supreme Court will properly address, starting on Monday, on whether companies have the right to patent genes. The question to ask now is, does this pathetic excuse of a SC have the common sense to say no given just how political this august body has become. Me thinks not but maybe yours truly will be surprised but I'm not betting on it. 

Surprise, the Supremes ruled 9-0 against. There is a god. :)