The power and pain of gene patents
PATENTLY ABSURD Latha Jishnu / New Delhi September 17, 2008, 3:35 IST There was groundbreaking news from Japan five days ago. Scientists from Kyoto University were awarded a patent for their discovery on how to produce stem cells from skin, the first stem cell patent granted in Japan. The special technology developed by the Kyoto University team, led by the renowned Shinya Yamanaka, creates what is termed induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, versatile cells that have the potential to develop into any kind of cells, including human organ and tissue cells.