Table 2 Reasons for and against gene patents in China
From: Patenting human genes: Chinese academic articles’ portrayal of gene patents
Reasons for gene patents in China | Mentioned times |
• Promoting inventions | 18 |
• Protecting inventors | 14 |
• Protecting genetic resources | 12 |
• Competing with developed countries | 9 |
• Fighting for genetic resources | 5 |
• Maintaining Chinese bioengineering industry in the twenty-first century | 3 |
• Helping translate technologies to business/profits | 3 |
Reasons against gene patent in China | |
• Protection of public health | 2 |
• Genes are owned by human beings | 1 |
• Chinese genetic resources have been drained by developed countries and have been patented in other countries. If China permits gene patents, Chinese will have to pay heavily to buy the patented Chinese genes back. | 1 |