254 • Impacts of Applied Genetics — Micro-Organisms, Plants, and Animals 
uniform in reproduction; such terms would 
have to be defined. Infringement should include 
the unauthorized reproduction of the orga- 
nism— although reproduction for research 
should be excluded to allow the development of 
new varieties. In fact, consideration should be 
given to covering in one statute plants and all 
other organisms that Congress desires to be pat- 
entable. This would provide the advantage of 
comprehensiveness and uniform treatment; it 
could also address the problems discussed 
under option B. 
The impact of this law cannot be assessed 
precisely. A comprehensive statute would stim- 
ulate the development of new organisms and 
their products and would encourage dis- 
semination of technical information; however, 
such a statute is not essential to the de- 
velopment of the biotechnology industry, since 
incentives and alternative means for protection 
already exist. The secondary impacts on society 
of the legislation are even harder to assess 
because of the scarcity of data from which to 
draw conclusions. The policy judgments will 
have to be made by Congress after it weighs the 
opinions of the various interest groups. 
Through legislation. Congress has the chance to 
balance competing views on this controversial 
issue and, if necessary, to alleviate the primary 
concerns about the long-term impacts of the 
decision— that higher organisms will inevitably 
be patented. 
