SciShow

Patenting Person Parts (2013x59)

: 20, 2013

Since the advent of genetic engineering, a lot of weird questions have cropped up, particularly with regard to what information a company can patent. Individual genes, as they are discovered, are now immediately patented and can be controlled by the company that owns the patent. Do those gene patents encourage science by providing a monetary incentive for researchers? Or do they discourage science by creating artificial barriers to the use and study of genes by the companies that don't hold the patents. Guest host Michael Aranda discusses.