Patenting Life
Tales from the Front Lines of Intellectual Property and the New Biology
By Jorge Goldstein | Publisher: Georgetown University Press
About the book
The story of the commercialization of biology by a pioneer in biotechnology patenting
Shortly after the emergence of genetic engineering in the 1970s, academic biologists were courted by venture capitalists and multinational companies. Researchers who understood the new biology of the time went from being merely curious about how the natural world functioned to realizing that they could profit from their newfound recognition. As they were inventing all sorts of newfangled organisms, biologists became acquainted with intellectual property.
Patenting Life provides insights into legal fights over patented microbes, virus-resistant crops, ownership of body parts, and the patents they engendered. Covering the early days of recombinant DNA science to the present, Goldstein shares cases from his own career and those of others involving blockbuster biological drugs, aseptic mosquitoes, genetically engineered cows, and CRISPR, the modern gene-editing technology that promises to vanquish congenital diseases such as sickle cell anemia. He also addresses the perceived downsides of the patent system: the high prices of drugs, international access to COVID-19 vaccines and other medicines, and the ascent of genetically modified crops.
Patenting Life will appeal to readers interested in science and technology and also those interested in laws promoting innovation.
Editions of Patenting Life
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781647125196
Read an Excerpt
The story of the commercialization of biology by a pioneer in biotechnology patenting
Shortly after the emergence of genetic engineering in the 1970s, academic biologists were courted by venture capitalists and multinational companies. Researchers who understood the new biology of the time went from being merely curious about how the natural world functioned to realizing that they could profit from their newfound recognition. As they were inventing all sorts of newfangled organisms, biologists became acquainted with intellectual property.
Patenting Life provides insights into legal fights over patented microbes, virus-resistant crops, ownership of body parts, and the patents they engendered. Covering the early days of recombinant DNA science to the present, Goldstein shares cases from his own career and those of others involving blockbuster biological drugs, aseptic mosquitoes, genetically engineered cows, and CRISPR, the modern gene-editing technology that promises to vanquish congenital diseases such as sickle cell anemia. He also addresses the perceived downsides of the patent system: the high prices of drugs, international access to COVID-19 vaccines and other medicines, and the ascent of genetically modified crops.
Patenting Life will appeal to readers interested in science and technology and also those interested in laws promoting innovation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Patenting Life about?
The story of the commercialization of biology by a pioneer in biotechnology patenting
Shortly after the emergence of genetic engineering in the 1970s, academic biologists were courted by venture capitalists and multinational companies. Researchers who understood the new biology of the time went from being merely curious about how the natural world functioned to realizing that they could profit from their newfound recognition. As they were inventing all sorts of newfangled organisms, biologists became acquainted with intellectual property.
Patenting Life provides insights into legal fights over patented microbes, virus-resistant crops, ownership of body parts, and the patents they engendered. Covering the early days of recombinant DNA science to the present, Goldstein shares cases from his own career and those of others involving blockbuster biological drugs, aseptic mosquitoes, genetically engineered cows, and CRISPR, the modern gene-editing technology that promises to vanquish congenital diseases such as sickle cell anemia. He also addresses the perceived downsides of the patent system: the high prices of drugs, international access to COVID-19 vaccines and other medicines, and the ascent of genetically modified crops.
Patenting Life will appeal to readers interested in science and technology and also those interested in laws promoting innovation.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Patenting Life?
Law > Laws of specific jurisdictions and specific areas of law > Intellectual property law > Patents law
Where can I read a sample of Patenting Life?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781647125196
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Patenting Life?
Jorge Goldstein
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Patenting Life is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781647125196)
Where can I buy Patenting Life online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Patenting Life from below
Where can I buy Patenting Life?