Harvard Patents Altered Rodent

Five years after receiving the first-ever U.S. patent on a genetically engineered animal, Harvard received a patent on a second transgenic mouse designed to advance research on prostrate disease last week.

A transgenic mouse is one in which a new gene has been introduced to the animal's genetic blueprint. The new Harvard mice were given a gene which causes their prostate glands to grow dramatically, The Boston Globe reported.

Dr. Gary Striker, a research official at the National Institutes of Health, said the new Harvard mouse "will be very useful" in testing new drug tratments for prostrate hypertrophy, according to The Globe.

The government also issued patents last week to GenPharm International for mice that lack crucial immune system cells and to Ohio Uni- versity for mice whose cells continuouslyproduce human beta-interferon.

The 1988 patent for the original Harvard mouse,a rodent prone to breast cancer, promptedcongressional calls for a moratorium on animalpatents until the implications of patenting newlife forms had been considered more fully.

The government's issuance of three patents ongenetically altered rodents is significant becauseit indicates that the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice has settled its position on animalpatenting.

"It appears that they've at least establishedsome criteria on which they are going to issuethese patents," Henry Shands, deputy administratorof the U.S. Department of Agriculture told TheGlobe

The 1988 patent for the original Harvard mouse,a rodent prone to breast cancer, promptedcongressional calls for a moratorium on animalpatents until the implications of patenting newlife forms had been considered more fully.

The government's issuance of three patents ongenetically altered rodents is significant becauseit indicates that the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice has settled its position on animalpatenting.

"It appears that they've at least establishedsome criteria on which they are going to issuethese patents," Henry Shands, deputy administratorof the U.S. Department of Agriculture told TheGlobe