Breakthrough in genetic map of wheat: scientists

October 2, 2008

A farmer works in a wheat field. Researchers on Thursday reported inroads in an ambitious project to map the genetic sequence of wheat, which ultimately could lead to the creation of more fertile and disease-resistant wheat strains.

Researchers on Thursday reported inroads in an ambitious project to map the genetic sequence of wheat, which ultimately could lead to the creation of more fertile and disease-resistant wheat strains.

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• codesuidae - Oct 02, 2008
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  What will the intellectual property status of the changes be? Unless they are granted to the public domain these improvements will also lock farmers into paying additional royalties to the IP holders.
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• Nemo - Oct 02, 2008
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  I'd prefer they make it a priority to fix the gluten problem. Celiacs and gluten intolerants the world over would rejoice!
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• Etienne - Oct 03, 2008
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  Following codesuidae's comment, I would like to mention that this work was done by public research institutes as part of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC; www.wheatgenome.org). The Consortium is committed to ensuring that the sequence of the wheat genome and the resulting DNA-based tools are available for all to use without restriction. Our main objective is to generate resources that can be useful for the whole community. As a consequence, there is no IP holder, and farmers won't have to pay to fully benefit of our results.
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• Soylent - Oct 03, 2008
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  What will the intellectual property status of the changes be? Unless they are granted to the public domain these improvements will also lock farmers into paying additional royalties to the IP holders.

  
  
  Unless public money is used to develop these new varieties of wheat, royalties is the way it must be. Private companies rarely spend billions on charity.
  
  It's conceivable that you could get some private companies interested in trying if you offer some very large prize money for some specific accomplishment under the stipulation that the resulting product must not be patented.
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• holmstar - Oct 03, 2008
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  Following codesuidae's comment, I would like to mention that this work was done by public research institutes as part of the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC; www.wheatgenome.org). The Consortium is committed to ensuring that the sequence of the wheat genome and the resulting DNA-based tools are available for all to use without restriction. Our main objective is to generate resources that can be useful for the whole community. As a consequence, there is no IP holder, and farmers won't have to pay to fully benefit of our results.

  
  
  Ok... so the actual genome data is free. That doesn't prevent one of the big seed companies from using the genome (which they got for free, just like the farmers could) to develop their own genetically engineered variety that they will then charge the farmers a premium to buy.
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