Patents on the Body
Monday, June 29 2009
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Patents on the Body
Genae Girard
When Genae Girard was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36, her doctors recommended she get tested for two genes that relate to an elevated risk of breast and ovarian cancer - BRCA1 and BRCA2. That's when Genae found out only one company could test for the mutation: Myriad Genetics. Myriad holds the patent on those two genes, along with the gene test. After she tested positive, Genae had to make the difficult decision about having her breasts and healthy ovaries removed, without a second opinion.
Genae and other women have now signed on to a federal lawsuit to get these patents reversed. They say no company has the right to have a patent over human genes.Â
- Read Myriad's description of its test
in tribute
Rashod Ollison
Rashod Ollison was 6 years old when Michael Jackson's Thriller came out. He'll never forget the day his mom brought the album home. He and his sisters played it on a special record player that sprayed rainbow lights across the walls and brought joy into their house. Rashod says the album helped him get over his sadness about his parents' divorce and turned him, temporarily, into a star at school. Rashod grew up and became a music critic. Today, after Jackson's death, we share an excerpt of that interview.
- Hear the complete interview with Rashod
Color War General
Sarah Sobel >>More
Many families have packed off the kids to camp this summer. Sarah Sobel is heading to camp again this year, but this time she'll be a counselor at the weight-loss camp she attended as a camper. Sarah chose to attend the camp thinking that she would simply lose some weight. But after a couple of tough weeks, she was chosen to be one of two "generals" in the camp's annual color war. That moment made Sarah see herself in a new light.
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