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Congress Bans Patenting of Human Embryos (2/04) |
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Congress enacted the Weldon Amendment, which prohibits the patenting of human embryos. The law became effective 23Jan04. The powerful Biotechnology Industry Organization lobbied against the legislation because the biotech firms it represents are relying on patents to enrich their own profits, and to give private investors a return on their investment.
This bill will make it more difficult for biotech firms to profit from cloning human embryos; it may also lessen the profit motive behind the research. Some researchers hope to create cloned human embryos with specific genetic traits, patent them and then collect royalties each time researchers use a “copy” of the patented embryo [according to Nat’l Right to Life News, 2/04; HLA Action News, Spring 2004]
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Stem Cells & Cloning 
