SDSSB Comments 3 - Ways of Owning

In the last decade, systems and synthetic biology has advanced biology with novel ideas and applications which interests the public, the enterprises, and the academia. As a “hot” topic, Nelson (2014) reported the current issues we have today, the two cultures which debates wether this domain should be “publicly owned” or “privately owned”. But, the question to be asked are (1) what can be patented? and (2) how it will affect the society and innovation.

Calvert (2008) gives an insight on the commodification (the transformation of goods into object of trade) of biological entities. As also stated in Pottage, a commodity should be well defined before disclosured as patent. The problem with the biology, and life itself, that it is dynamic and complex. The reductionism of biology into its molecular parts doesn’t answer emergence properties of living systems, which is the goods that we seek to be commodified. But, Systems Biology which address the holistic interaction of biological systems doesn’t seem to suit the patenting system. Synthetic Biology in the other hand, thorugh its modularity and “predictability” are more suitable for patents.

Pottage (2009) gives insight on how intelectual property became important issue for lots of segment by using Venter’s patent on protocell. As a minimal genome chassis, protocell would a potential core technology to be used as a platform in synthetic biology. Interestingly as it says in p173, the patent may be aimed to gain control to all minimal genome technology. What I understand from the paper, patent enables inventor to disclose (making known to public) and protects their invention in the market (p167). But, restrictice licensing in core technology may results in “Tragedy of anti commons” and became a hindrance in innovation and Venter’s patent need to be given more attention for this.

Protecting Intelectual Property is important for scientist and innovators. In this era where science and technology became very valuable for business, I see that research outputs in academia tends to put lots of efforts in patenting. Will this perspective changes our research trends in the future? I personally believe that the collaborative power of the “crowd” and open source licensing are the powerful drive to innnovate Systems & Synthetic Biology in the future.