Nature opens up its genome sequencing literature

Genetic Maize blog reports that the Nature Publishing Group(NPG), which publishes the Nature magazine and Nature journals, has “…opened up all paper reporting genome sequences to the public.”

In an editorial, NPG explains that under the ‘creative commons’ license, papers reporting full genome sequences will be freely available for non-commercial use. So, a nongovernmental organization working in the field of agricultural biotechnology can retrieve a paper detailing sequencing of maize genome and distribute it to researchers, especially in poor countries. Those researchers can in turn exploit the knowledge gained thereof to develop improved seeds for their farmers. I understand that as long as such process is not commerce-driven, there will be no qualms from patent holders.

Genetic Maize’s owner, Anastasia Bodna, a PhD student at Iowa University, while applauding this move, however, notes that it doesn’t “…affect the patenting of individual genes.” Explains Anastasia:

A modified patent would allow only the patent holder to use the gene for profit, but freely allow non-profit use of the gene. I could design and create my cilantro, as long as I don’t sell it, and give credit to the person who developed the gene. If I do develop something with market potential, I could negotiate with the patent holder, perhaps to pay royalties for the duration of the patent.

This sounds very interesting to me. It’s possible, then, for nonprofits like the Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth - who constantly vilify genetically modified (GM) crops ostensibly because corporations that develop them are profit-driven – to freely modify genes and dole them out to poor farmers. They have deep pockets: they can afford it.

When faulting seed companies like DuPont, Bayer, and Monsanto, for their overzealous marketing of GM crops to poor countries, these groups advocate for researchers in such countries to be left alone to develop indigenous solutions to local food problems. It’s now practically possible, thanks to NPG, for them to work closely with local scientists to explore opportunities genome sequencing provides.

Norman Borlaug regularly harangues anti-biotech groups for their empty rhetoric against genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “They have never produced a tonne of food,” Borlaug usually reminds them. Courtesy of NPG, these groups now have a chance to prove Borlaug wrong.