Capitalism in biology from "summary" of The Genome War by James Shreeve
In the cutthroat world of modern biology, the driving force behind scientific progress is not just the pursuit of knowledge, but also the pursuit of profits. Researchers and institutions alike are caught up in a relentless race to patent genes, sequences, and techniques that promise to unlock the mysteries of life itself. This phenomenon, often dubbed "capitalism in biology," has transformed the field from a noble pursuit of understanding to a high-stakes game of intellectual property and financial gain. The seeds of this capitalist mentality were sown with the mapping of the human genome, a monumental feat that promised to revolutionize medicine and biology. As scientists scrambled to identify and sequence genes, they quickly realized the potential for enormous financial gain. Companies sprung up overnight, each vying to stake their claim on the most lucrative genetic discoveries. This rush to patent genes and technologies led to a frenzy of competition, with researchers and corporations alike racing to...
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