22nd Annual Student Research Conference
The Effect of Gene Patents on Our Perceptions of Ownership as Seen Through the Genomic Research and Accessibility Act
Anna E. Esfeld
Mr. Kristopher Stroup and Dr. Elizabeth M. Clark, Faculty Mentors
Throughout history we have dealt with the question of ownership. Various human cultures have come to different conclusions on what they can own as individuals or communities and conversely, what cannot be owned by anyone. There is obviously something human about feeling a sense of ownership of something. This can be seen when a child plays with a toy that is his. This sense, while varied across cultures, is somewhat universal. Gene patents put an interesting spin on the question of ownership. The question I will be asking, using Lewontin and Condit to determine an answer, is: are we so concerned with the idea of patenting genes because we feel that genes are the blueprints on which we are designed?
Keywords: patenting genes, determanism, genetics, ownership
Topic(s):Biology
Psychology
Interdisciplinary
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 13-1
Location: VH 1416
Time: 8:15