U.S. Denies Patent on Part-Human Hybrid

jimkski wrote to mention a Boston Globe story involving the refusal of a patent claim on a genetically engineered creature. From the article: "A New York scientist's seven-year effort to win a patent on a laboratory-conceived creature that is part human and part animal ended in failure Friday, closing a historic and somewhat ghoulish chapter in U.S. intellectual property law."

Comments

Frightening

[Pan T. Hose]

I don't know what is more frightening: a genetically engineered part-human hybrid or the idea that it could be patented... In any case this seems like a very big step for science. The question is: is it a step in the right direction? Do we have a right to play God? The answer seems to be positive, but the unforeseen consequences are unimaginable.

Will we create Frenkenstein? Will we patent Frenkenstein? Will he have to pay licensing fees for his offspring? Will his descendants have to pay? Will their owners have to pay? Will it mean a race of sub-human slaves? Is it moral to enslave those creatures even if they don't have a soul or consciousness as we know it? If we become Creators or indeed gods does it mean we have an absolute power over our creation?

These are all fascinating questions. We are lucky to live in the age of such an amazing research. The only problem is that this very research seems to umdermine all of the established moral and ethical systems, not to even mention religion. Only time will tell whether it was wise to play God. Hopefully we will live long enough to discover the answer. Frightening and fascinating perspective.

Just because they denied one patent...

[Anonymous Coward]

doesn't mean they're still not out to destroy us all. The patent scam is part of Bushie's grand scheme to destroy the middle class. When individuals and small companies are no longer allowed to produce products because of the overhead of fighting the old-money patent holders, the middle class will be destroyed. His ultimate goal will have been met. Never for a second think that he doesn't have his sites on your job or your way of life. The patent office is just one piece of the puzzle. Organization is the best tool we have to use in the fight against this. Go to http://www.democraticunderground.com/ to help in the fight against the Bush crime family.

Re:Measure of a Man

[porcupine8]

Wow.

Just.

Wow.

I'm just going to sit here slack-jawed and amazed, and hope that you're in a very, very tiny minority.