The end of gene technology - patents on GE (transgenic) organisms have no scientific basis

Existing patents will be challenged and are likely to be found invalid

A cooperation project of 35 groups of leading scientists from all over the world has resulted in the consensus that genes work in a different way than believed when gene technology was conceived in 1973. The genes work in networks where the effect of every gene is decided by the interaction with many other genes as well with its environment, see Consensus.

So the one-gene-one-trait concept, the very basis of gene technology, is fundamentally wrong.

GE patents untenable

Thus patenting of genes as carriers of specific traits is illusory and therefore scientifically untenable. A process has already started on challenging existing gene technology patents. It has been successful in challenging four Monsanto patents (1). The new consensus on the nature of genes will lead to a general attack on gene technology patents.

A fundamental requirement for a patent is that it must have a scientifically correct foundation. You cannot obtain a patent for a gene as the carrier of a specific trait when science has established that genes are not carriers of isolated traits. We can therefore safely predict that no patent on genetically engineered organisms are defendable. When a patent is found to have a scientifically incorrect basis it can be revoked. This will be the case with all GE patents.

The economical fundament of gene technology shattered

This shatters the economical fundament of the gentech industry because without viable patents, the industry will not be able to survive economically. No investor will find it safe to invest in such bussiness.

References

Monsanto patents asserted against american farmers rejected by patent office: PUBPAT Initiated Review Leads PTO to Find All Claims of All Four Patents Invalid. Press release July 24, 2007.