Do You Own Your Own Genes?

    In the 1990s many breakthroughs in genetics occurred. The human genome was first sequenced, and many scientists were trying to figure out how to play god with a genome, weather that be for medical therapy, such as helping repair a broken tumor suppressor gene, or creating a designer baby. This however caused fear for many Americans, and other citizens throughout the world. Scientists would patent these breakthroughs, but for many Americans they weren't helping the medical field grow, they were trying to own humans. Ownership of one's genes become a hot debate, and would eventually be something tackled by the Supreme Court in the famous case, Association for Molecular Pathology V. Myriad Genetics. But why?
    The Association for Molecular Pathology along with other scientists patented tests which allowed them to see the BRCA 1 and 2 gene, and they were the only company now allowed to perform diagnostics and tests regarding this gene. This seemingly violated the rights of many Americans, because a company who on the outside was helping them discover for example cancer risks, as the BRCA 1 and 2 gene are tumor suppressors, now owned the right to their genetic code. In the medical field specifically there is a increased importance placed upon security, privacy, and the patient, and this company was violating every part. While the Supreme Court struck down this patent in a 9-0 vote, it would raise the question for decades about autonomy and ownership of ones body. It would also seemingly slow down future genetic research, albeit for a very short time, as companies were more nervous to invest in something that the public found so foreign and scary.

https://www.genengnews.com/news/who-owns-your-genes/
https://www.oyez.org/cases/2012/12-398