[ti:U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Human Genes Are Not Patentable] [ar:Avi Arditti] [al:Technology Report] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, [00:02.66]this is the Technology Report. [00:05.60]The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that businesses cannot [00:12.51]control the rights to human genes in their natural state. [00:17.79]Patients' rights groups are calling the decision a victory. [00:22.63]The court, however, left room to protect the patent ownership rights [00:28.21]on some other important biotechnology applications. [00:32.86]The court's decision was in a case involving [00:36.40]the biotechnology company Myriad Genetics. [00:40.63]The company had identified human genes [00:44.43]that increase a woman's risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer. [00:50.15]The company applied for and was given exclusive rights [00:54.99]over the use of those genes. [00:57.38]Attorney Sandra Park works with the American Civil Liberties Union. [01:03.51]She says the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [01:07.99]has been allowing patents on some DNA for 30 years. [01:13.04]"What was problematic about these patents was that Myriad [01:16.48]was able to use those patents to stop other laboratories [01:19.47]from providing genetic testing, [01:20.97]even when those other laboratories were using different methods." [01:24.46]Miss Park says that means that genetic testing [01:29.36]for increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer [01:33.30]cost more because of the lack of competition. [01:37.27]And she says the gene patent prevented patients [01:41.80]from getting a second medical opinion based on some other test. [01:46.97]But the Supreme Court has now rejected this type of patent, [01:52.41]all nine justices agreed that because genes are products of nature, [01:58.68]they can not be owned by one business. [02:01.92]Lisbeth Ceriani helped bring the case against Myriad. [02:07.70]She is a breast cancer survivor who struggled to pay for Myriad's test. [02:13.57]"Our genes are not being held hostage by a private corporation anymore. [02:16.86]We have the right to know that our doctor [02:20.00]can look at our own genes to see what information is there." [02:22.83]Health activists say the ruling will lower costs [02:27.31]and improve testing for breast and ovarian cancer, [02:31.69]and other conditions for which companies have gene patents. [02:36.28]Myriad Genetics also created man made versions of the genes [02:41.65]and patented those, too. [02:44.06]These versions are called complimentary DNA or cDNA. [02:49.98]For example, cDNA is used to make insulin to treat people with diabetes. [02:57.21]The Supreme Court said patents on such man made genes [03:03.09]are permitted because cDNA does not exist in nature. [03:07.77]Jennifer Swize is a lawyer for Myriad Genetics. [03:12.25]"To Myriad, the decision is a win. For all practical purposes, [03:16.73]companies like Myriad use the cDNA claims to do their testing." [03:22.20]Myriad's stock price grows after the Supreme Court gave its ruling on June, 13th, [03:29.13]this suggested that investors saw the decision [03:32.42]as a good one for the biotechology industry. [03:36.17]And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English, [03:41.09]written by Onka Dekker. [03:43.09]For more of our reports, [03:44.89]visit our website at 51voa.com. [03:50.77]We are also on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter at VOA Learning English. [03:57.10]I'm Avi Arditti. [03:58.84]¸ü¶àÌýÁ¦Çë·ÃÎÊ51voa.com