Environmental campaigners are protesting that a new patent acquired by
Monsanto could stifle scientific research. The patent, granted in the US in
January, is for the insertion of antibiotic resistance genes as markers during
experiments. Rural Advancement Foundation International, a lobby group based in
Canada, says that the patent will enable Monsanto to charge researchers to use a
common tool in genetic engineering. The company denies this, saying it has
allowed free use since it first invented the technology 18 years ago.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
91É«ÇéƬ
A type of fibre that stimulates GLP-1 release approved for use in food
News
Space
The best new science-fiction novels published in July 2026
Culture
Environment
Slowdown of AMOC ocean current may be gradual and reversible
News
Life
First new open-ocean subsea research habitat in 40 years launched
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
The world's fastest spider tops 3.5 metres per second
2
Babies are born with the neural foundations for maths
3
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
4
The best new science-fiction novels published in July 2026
5
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
6
The race to understand how and when Thwaites glacier will collapse
7
I’m the first person whose life was saved by CRISPR base editing
8
Slowdown of AMOC ocean current may be gradual and reversible
9
We’ve uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
10
This physicist is hunting for the biggest black hole in the universe
