last week i shared with y'all about my brca1 genetic mutation, which puts me at very high risk for breast and other cancers.to be considered for brca testing, you usually must exhibit several risk factors, since the large minority of cancers are related to gene problems. in my case, my mother and grandfather had already tested positive for the gene, and i had a very strong family history of breast cancer.
if your family history is deemed suspicious enough by the big cancer kahunas, then you begin the joy of the BRACAnalysis test through myriad genetics lab in utah.
myriad is the only lab in the world that tests for the brca1 and brca2 genetic mutations. why? they patented those genes. yup, a gene that runs through my body, my mother's body, my grandfather and aunt and thousands of others, has been patented by a company that charges $3000 per (teeny little pin prick) blood test. may or may not be covered by insurance.
gene patenting is not new - living things weren't patentable before 1980, but that year a landmark 5-4 supreme court decision regarding genetically engineered bacteria started a spiral of gene patenting. there are definite positives: gene patenting encourages the sharing of information, reduces duplicated research, and encourages funding. however, the negatives include allowing private companies to monopolize testing (charging exorbitant amounts and taking months to send results), and the fact that, when it comes down to it, humans are patenting other humans.
this morning, i was delighted to read the following headline/article:
the american civil liberties union is "arguing that patenting pure genes is unconstitutional and hinders research for a cancer cure," and i couldn't agree more.
i understand that the issues surrounding gene patenting are complex, that there is no easy answer. but i can't support a system that allows companies to patent parts of people, then make it difficult for those people to access information about themselves! i am not a political person; i do not agree with aclu in all (ok, most) things. but there is only one being i know who holds a legitimate patent on the human body, and He is not employed by myriad genetics.
for more info on gene patenting, click here
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