[Upd-discuss] patenting genes

[Richard Stallman]

    I remain unclear on how it is that patents are granted for genes. Why is
    not the discovery of a gene a non-patentable discovery rather than a
    patentable invention?

The justification that the patent system offers is that the gene
has been isolated in a pure form, and that that is a substance
distinct from what is found in natural chromosomes.

It seems rather strained logic to me.  It seems to reflect a
desire on the part of the patent system to stretch its rules
to permit more kinds of patents.