Lessons - The Supreme Court Battle Over Your Genes | Jorge Contreras - Harvard Law Professor
Lessons - The Supreme Court Battle Over Your Genes | Jorge Contreras - Harvard Law Professor
This episode features legal scholar Jorge Contreras discussing the Supreme Court battle over patenting human genes. He delves into the complexities of intellectual property law concerning DNA, the landmark case that challenged gene patents, and the broader implications for the biotech industry and future scientific research. Contreras shares his expertise on how these legal decisions impact access to genetic information and the advancement of medicine.
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Jorge Contreras - Presidential Scholar & Professor of Law | Who Owns Your DNA?
Show Notes
In this "Lessons" episode, Jorge Contreras, Harvard Law professor and leading voice in genetics law, breaks down the complex battle over who can own the building blocks of human life. He explains how isolated DNA sequences were once treated as patentable inventions, why this granted corporations sweeping control over research, diagnostics, and future medical breakthroughs, and how legal challenges eventually pushed back against the idea of owning human genes. Through clear examples and historical context, he reveals how the fight over BRCA patents reshaped scientific innovation, patient access, and the limits of intellectual property in modern biology.