October Term 2012 · Docket 12-398
Can isolated human genes receive patent protection?
Myriad Genetics holds patents on isolated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. the sides that brought the case argue these natural sequences cannot be patented. The Court must decide if isolation creates a patentable invention.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Christopher Hansen argued Myriad invented nothing by isolating natural genes.
General Verrilli argued the patent system must keep basic building blocks free.
Mr. Castanias argued isolated gene molecules are eligible for patents.
Justice Alito questioned the functional difference between isolated and natural DNA.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Myriad Genetics claims patents on isolated BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes correlate with increased cancer risk. the sides that brought the case argue Myriad discovered, not invented, these sequences. Myriad argues isolation creates a new, patentable molecule. The dispute centers on patent eligibility for natural products.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 15, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-3
What each side wants
Myriad wants to keep its patents on isolated genes valid.
the sides that brought the case want the Court to invalidate the gene patents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
What each side says
Myriad argues isolated DNA differs functionally from natural DNA.
the sides that brought the case argue Myriad merely discovered natural genetic sequences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if isolated DNA has a different function than natural DNA.
Justice Sotomayor asked why diagnostic tests were not patented separately from the genes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
Why it matters
Gene patents control access to cancer testing. High costs limit patient access to genetic screening. Patent validity affects research and medical innovation. The outcome shapes the balance between private incentives and public access to biological tools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 45-45
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.