CALYK@aol.com wrote:
>
> My friend told me that a scientist made a patent on genetically combining a
> monkey with a human. He made the patent so no one would do it. Does that
> mean no one can? Is it right to own a process of nature so no one can use it?
> I see it more as the ability to do electronics or something, electronics is
> open territory, if its possible and you want to play with a certain aspect you
> should be able to.
Ralph Nader (not by any stretch of the imagination a scientist) applied for a patent on human/animal "chimeras" for the purpose of "stimulating public debate". The Patent Office refused on the grounds that you can't patent something immoral.
--
sentience@pobox.com Eliezer S. Yudkowsky
http://pobox.com/~sentience/AI_design.temp.html
http://pobox.com/~sentience/sing_analysis.html
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise specified, I'm not telling you
everything I think I know.