Landmarks in the History of Genetic Patents

In 1998, developmental biologist Stuart Newman applied for a patent on a process to produce a ‘chimerical’ creature. Newman had no intention of actually making the part-human, part-animal monster – he just wanted to spark public debate.

But in 1999 the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected his application. Newman announced his attention to appeal, if necessary all the way up to the Supreme Court.

In 2005, he lost his seven-year battle when USPTO once more rejected the claim, saying the hybrid would be too closely related to a human to be patentable.