Genetic Research

The announcement by President Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair that the sequence of the human genome should be available to all is welcome news (March 14).

The stated purpose is “to improve health around the world and enhance the quality of life for all humankind.” Then why not include the rice genome, which is now being sequenced by several private companies? Having this sequence in the public domain and available to scientists around the world may do more to improve human health and the quality of life of billions of people and will do so at a much lower cost. Knowing the rice genome will allow rice breeders to identify important genes that can boost rice productivity and allow it to be grown in soils and climatic conditions that are less than ideal.

MAARTEN J. CHRISPEELS

Professor of Biology

UC San Diego, La Jolla

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“Gene Patent Reform Vital” (editorial, March 4) misses the mark in at least two respects. You suggest that handing out gene patents will allow companies to hide gene sequences. Patents, however, are not tools of seclusion. Rather, a patent fully discloses how to make and use the invention. The purpose of the exchange of a patent for such disclosure is to encourage innovation and improvement, not discourage it. Discouraging patent protection encourages secrecy, not disclosure.

You suggest that the solution to the perceived gene patent reform problem lies with the U.S. Patent Office. The patent statutes as interpreted by the Supreme Court allow for the patenting of any useful, novel and unobvious subject matter, with certain exceptions. To the extent Congress believes that certain subject matter should not be the subject of patents, or some form of mandatory compulsory licensing is appropriate, the remedy lies with Congress, not the patent office.

ROD S. BERMAN, Chair

Intellectual Property Dept.

Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Marmaro

Los Angeles