The very word “cancer” incites feelings of fear and dread; most of us do not understand where it comes from or why, the treatments seem unreliable and the outcomes are often miserable.  Blocking gene patents is being supported by some cancer researchers because they are worried that access to critical information and materials will be stifled.  They use emotive case studies to argue that somehow gene patents are inhibiting progress in curing patients.  They are missing the point and surprisingly, as evidence based scientists, they are not applying the same techniques to critically examining the issues.  There is little mention of the good outcomes that have been achieved using patented technologies. (more…)