Dangers in the Biotech Age – the truth about Biotech Rights

Abstract

The biotech industry’s recent discoveries have deepened our understanding of genetics and present next to indefinite opportunities to create new products and treatments by genetic manipulation. But these exciting discoveries also pose many challenging questions and immediate needs. Most people are unaware of the technologies being developed today and the enormous potential and risks they bring with them and thus there is an enormous need for education. The positive image that has been marketed by industry and the governments has mostly stood unchallenged and the general public have formed the idea that genetics do not involve any threats whatsoever.

The aim of this paper is to enlighten the reader and to serve as a comprehensive guide to understanding the multifold problems and dangers associated with patents on genes and other basic biological products and processes. The paper examine whether the legal tools are well adapted to their purpose and promote scientific progress and continuous advancements or if they go beyond the law’s initial intentions and jeopardise and inhibit progress, stifle development of improved and more cost-effective therapeutics, treatment methods and patient care. It also examines the ethical, social and scientific aspects that follow from the commercial exploitation of genetically based inventions.