Scientists' talk of creating human–mouse hybrid embryos for research has prompted the Washington, DC-based Foundation on Economic Trends to send a stern warning that the organization has already staked out that turf.
"We have a patent application in that covers injecting human stem cells into mice and other animals. We fully expect that they will then be liable for patent infringement" if the patent is approved and the scientists try to go forward with the test, said Foundation president Jeremy Rifkin. "If the patent is issued," Rifkin said, "we determine who will be able to exploit this technology for 20 years. We will determine how it's to be used or if it's to be used."
At a forum in New York on November 13, sponsored by the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) and Rockefeller University, US and Canadian scientists gathered by Rockefeller embryologist Ari Brivanlou discussed, among other...
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