[oldbrowser]

"Myriad did not create anything," Thomas said. "To be sure, it found an important and useful gene, but separating that gene from its surrounding genetic material is not an act of invention."

If you invent something you can have a patent or a copyright. If you discover something you can have a claim.
For instance if you discover a gold mine you can stake a claim. Right? So shouldn't you be able to stake a claim to a newly discovered gene?
What is the point of spending money to do research if you have no claim to your research results?

[Boogieman]

“So shouldn’t you be able to stake a claim to a newly discovered gene?”

Sure, you can claim and one that single instance of the gene that you isolated. What you can’t do is claim ownership of all the copies of that gene already floating around the world that you have nothing to do with.

[Lurker]

“What is the point of spending money to do research if you have no claim to your research results?”

Think about this for a minute. This company wanted to literally own a piece of you. You may be comfortable with that, but I sure as hell am not.

[Mr. Quarterpanel]

For instance if you discover a gold mine you can stake a claim. Right?

Not if you don't own the land that it is found on. The same thing goes here. They stake a claim on something that they don't own.