The US Supreme Court has ruled that human genes as they occur naturally may not be patented, although synthetic cDNA (artificial exon-only sequences) may be. NY Times article and the ruling.
The concept of Impact is of increasing importance in UK research policy: it is an essential policy tool in the Research Councils' strategies and is under development as part of the higher education Research Excellence Framework 2014. Traditionally very much seen in terms of bibliometrics and commercial aspects such as patents, this is rapidly broadening to include public engagement, communication, policy engagement and societal issues. Some resources of interest:
Useful article in Science on the difficult issue of marine genetic resources, patents and equity outside areas of national jurisdiction. Arnaud-Haond S et al (2011) Marine Biodiversity and Gene Patents Science 25 March 2011: 331 (6024), 1521-1522. [DOI:10.1126/science.1200783]
