Inviting danger?
GOING by the recent experiences in the patent market, some scientists have expressed concern about the entry of us- based Progene Inc to set up genetic testing centres in the country diagnosing for genetic abnormalities. The department of biotechnology (DBT) recently received fresh information questioning the company's credentials. It has come to light that the same company closed its shop in 18 months in Tunisia in Africa after collecting blood samples of the local population. Recently, the DBT and the health ministry had approved the company's proposal on the condition that it would not send the Samples outside India.
However, the Indian Council of Medical Research and the DBT have warned the ministry that the company's network in India will act as a passage for blood samples and human DNA to its collaborators in the us. Earlier, the company had allayed misgivings that Indian samples would be misused for patenting genetic material. The company refused to reveal why it wound up its operations in Tunisia and why it was not permitted to operate in China. Progene runs genetic test centres in the us, Korea, Vietnam and France.
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