March 2000

Advising on Patenting of Genetic Material

Advising on Patenting of Genetic Material

In 2000, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office released revised interim guidelines that raised the bar for patent eligibility of nucleic acid sequences. ASHG supports the PTO’s new standard of “specific, substantial and credible” utility in its revised guidelines, and suggested an extension of this standard to keep pace with current and planned research. Related:... Read More

Considering Family Privacy in Genetic Research and Medicine

Considering Family Privacy in Genetic Research and Medicine

Genetic information about an individual reveals genetic risk information about both the individual and other family members. ASHG issued a statement in 2000 considering the importance of family medical history in genetics research and its balance with ensuring the genetic privacy of research participants’ relatives, and one in 1998 commenting on this balance in the... Read More