PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gert Matthijs
AU  - Shirley Hodgson
TI  - The impact of patenting on DNA diagnostic practice
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.8-1-58
DP  - 2008 Feb 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 58--60
VI  - 8
IP  - 1
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/1/58.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/1/58.full
SO  - Clin Med2008 Feb 01; 8
AB  - Patents on genes often cover the gene sequence and the link between a disease and mutations in a gene, rather than a technology for the identification of mutations per se. Normally, patents are important for encouraging the development of new diagnostic tools and kits, but there is evidence that they can have severely deleterious effects on the delivery of genetic services. The difference largely depends on the licensing policy of the patent holder. This article describes different ways in which patents are used in this context and how the effects may be mitigated.