Patents, Ethics, Human Life Forms

Introduction Exploitation and Monopoly of Cloned DNA Sequences Anticipated Benefits of Transgenesis Reservations Concerning Transgenesis Defense of Human Germ Line Intervention Autonomy and Patent Claims Against Parents and Children Distributive Justice and Patent Claims on Extracorporeal Compounds Product Patents on Human DNA Sequences Isolation-Purification Rationale for DNA Product Patents Unpatentability of Nature and DNA Patents What Should Suffice for a Biotechnology Product Patent? Adverse Welfare Effects of DNA Patents Alternative Incentives for Biotechnological Innovation Measures for Holding onto the Availability of Product Patents Categorical Prohibitions Compulsory Publication of DNA Sequence Data to Thwart Patents Subsidies Exclusive FDA Approval for a Term of Years Human Methods Patent Ancillary Mechanisms Compulsory Licensing Expert Guidance Implications of Patents in the Clinic Introduction of Human Substances Outside the Germ Line Human Germ Line Intervention Consistency of Policy for Plants and Animals Acknowledgment Bibliography