S recently when a verdict was given over the use of isolated DNA sequences in patents owned by Myriad Genetics.
Speaking at the launch of the new Wellcome Trust initiative, biologist John Sulston suggested that it is vital that genetic information of any form is not included in patents, as it could impact on the ability for some people to receive the medication or help they need.
According to the Guardian, the expert, who led the British contribution to the Human Genome Project, said: "The fact of the matter is that many human genes have patent rights on them and this is going to get in the way of treatment, unless you have a lot of money. And it's going to get in the way of research."
He explained that he is firmly in support of genetic manipulation tools being in the public domain. "This is not just a philosophical point of view, it's actually the case that monopolistic control of this kind would be bad for science, bad for consumers and bad for business, because it removes the element of competition," he added.
The ethical debate around biopatents in relation to DNA sequencing is likely to rage on for some time, making the design of such documentation a difficult area for many firms to fully understand without expert help. However, the issue will not take anything away from the important role the new UK10K project will play in building on past genetic advances.
Sir Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, clearly outlined his hopes for the scheme. He said: "The involvement of clinicians, researchers and, most importantly, the thousands of people who have donated DNA samples, will help us to correlate genetic variation with individual variation in health and disease, and help to deliver on the long-term promise of the Human Genome Project."
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