DNA patents revisited

A bipartisan proposal to modify restraints in patent law was debated before the United States Senate Judiciary Committee this month. Immediately following the third hearing last week, leading scientists called for a study of the relevant issues by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, prior to the draft legislation moving forward (www.patenteligibility.com ). This study should be initiated soon, with a short timeline, to ensure that appropriate information and analysis can inform the legislative processes that will substantially affect how the benefits of science and innovation are delivered to society.