Myriad Genetics, Inc. v. Association for Molecular Pathology

Myriad Genetics, Inc. v. Association for Molecular Pathology was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in 2013 that addressed whether human genes can be patented. Myriad Genetics had patented specific DNA sequences linked to breast and ovarian cancer risk. The court ruled that naturally occurring human genes cannot be patented, as they are products of nature. However, synthetic genetic material could be patented. This decision impacted the biotechnology industry by ensuring that fundamental natural information remains accessible to researchers and patients, fostering innovation and testing for genetic diseases without restrictive patents.