Patently unpatentable

Science News, August 21, 1999

The U.S Patent and Trademark Office has rejected an application for a broad patent on the creation of human-animal chimeras. Last year, cell biologist Stuart A. Newman of New York Medical College in Valhalla and biotech critic Jeremy Rifkin of the Foundation on Economic Trends in Washington, D.C., filed for the patent (SN: 5/9/98, p. 299). They hoped to ignite a public debate on the patenting of life-forms and, if the patent was granted, block the creation of such chimeras.

Their patent was rejected because a chimera "includes within its scope a human being," and people are not patentable, according to the patent agency. Newman and Rifkin plan to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.