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AHRC Research Centre for Studies in IP and Technology Law >
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Property and the Gene as Cultural Icons Collection home page

The application of property models to genes - and particularly human genes - has been a source of controversy for some time, although the general trend towards stronger and broader intellectual property protection for the biotechnology industry remains unabated. This project will examine this phenomenon from an interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together adacemics, practitioners, researchers and public interest groups to ask (i) whether this approach is the optimal means to protect and further the range of interests that are at stake in the enterprise of genetic research, (ii) whether modified property models are better suited to the task, or (iii) whether property protection should be extended to other parties, for example research subjects, or indeed (iv) whether the property paradigm can and should be abandoned altogether. Overarchingly, this project will assess, inform and seek to influence the future direction of law and policy in this area.