Specific Purpose: To persuade that gene patenting is beneficial. Thesis: Gene patenting is beneficial to medical research and human societies. Organizational Pattern: Question of Fact/Question of Value I. Introduction: a. Attention Getter: It’s finals week. We’ve studied long hours, on little sleep, and a whole lot of caffeine. We shuffle to our designated testing spot to slog through the endless circles of our scantron… only to discover that the person next to us… is cheating! Not only are we offended, but now we have lost our test grades as well. b. Relevance: As a cash-strapped college student, as we all are here at KU, we often wonder why is healthcare so expensive? A trip to the doctor or a medication can set us back considerably; let’s …show more content…
II. Body a. What is gene patenting? i. Intellectual property, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization, refers “to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. IP is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create.” ii. What is a patent: According to Merz’s 2005 article “What are Gene Patents and Why Are People Worried about them?” in the journal Community Genet, a patent allows a person who discovers or invents something novel to exert ownership of their work. It prevents others from stealing, using, or profiting from what you have created. iii. What is a gene patent: Merz explains, “Human gene patents result from the cloning and description of the sequence of a gene, the role or function of which is somewhat understood”. But what does this mean? According to Merz: 1. There are three types of gene patents: the first is for diagnostic use. This is a process where you might want to have some of your genetic material tested, to see if you have or are at risk for a particular disease. (Paying for a …show more content…
In Caulfield’s 2006 article, “Evidence and Anecdotes: An Analysis of Human Gene Patenting Controversies”, he points out that we must focus our attention not where there is a lack of evidence, but rather where there is. Patenting has created a competition for sharing resources in this field of research, which is leading to a stimulation and need for new and novel research into discovery, production, and applications. ii. Patents stimulate competition in research and discovery. 1. Merz points out in his article “What Are Gene Patents and Why Are People Worried about Them?” that biotechnology when it comes down to its core, is a capitalist venture. It is sensitive to the flow of supply and demand. Although patents drive research, it ultimately comes down to the demand generated from consumers – us. If it’s too expensive, we won’t buy it, which also motivates researchers to invent without other patents, using public resources and open source information, and exploring other solutions, which ultimately, leads to new discoveries. Transition 3: Last, let us now talk about how gene patenting is ethical, now that we have explored how gene patents contribute in a more global and wide sense. c. Gene patenting is