Question for IP lawyers (hi Bon Bon). I'm glad the Supremes ruled the way they did, but one thing puzzles me. If Mary-Claire King discovered the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes decades ago, how did Myriad ever get to patent them in first place? Even if the Supreme court had ruled the other way and said that natural human genes could be patented, how does that let them patent something someone else discovered and published? Aren't patents supposed to be original discoveries, not just grabbing any random un-patented public domain thing?

check out the timeline. [link]

not clear where she fits, but if 40 people are involved in "discovering" a gene, whose property is it?

I think whoever makes the effort to get a patent wins. Other people probably rightly said, "This is part of nature, not something patentable."

how did Myriad ever get to patent them in first place?

They isolated and sequenced the gene first.

Aren't patents supposed to be original discoveries

Generally, they're given for original inventions/ideas. In this case, Myriad's test method for the genes can have a patent, but they can't hold the patent on the genes (which would keep others from designing a different test for them).

She comes in out of the grey...

An awful lot of awesome people were born that year, sounds like.

Oh me too! I'm only a week out from my bday, so I can see 42 from here as well!

We're a bunch of awesome. Granted, we've had a hard few years, but we're good and we've got amazing friends to hold us up the rest of the time.

Yes, this. In case I haven't said it recently, you guys are the bestest. Work's been eating me (from every direction, not just my bottom) lately, so I feel like my presence here is down to nearly nothing, but I'm almost always lurking nearby, thinking good thoughts and sending vibes and ~ma. And wishing I could be more presenter.

Anyway, love you guys (and hopefully a few of you have some recollection of me and can think fond thoughts). (Oh dear, that sounded really needy. Not what I was going for at all. Go for something dramatic to change the tone!)

::Exits, Stage Left, In a Cloud of Glitter and Good Wishes::

::Thinking fond Epic thoughts.

Steph, you're Dad is not the only one who is obsessing about matching his future son in law in a wedding.

Mom has neighbors getting married and her neighbor was venting about her Dad - who called her and wanted to know what cut and color suit her fiancee was wearing at the wedding. And what color/type of tie. So he could match. Her bridesmaids aren't matching, the groomsmen aren't matching. It's a super casual DIY wedding. But her father keeps asking - why aren't you doing X or Y or Z, or what will you do if X happens.

Then the bride called her Mom to vent. Who called her Dad to tell him to chill out and lay off. Which upset her Dad so he called the bride to complain that she vented to her Mom and it's none of her (the Mom's business). To which the Bride replied, but it's my business. It's a super casual wedding , there will probably be people in jeans.

I think there's something about weddings that causes at least one person in the family or wedding party to just freak out.

::Thinking fond Epic thoughts.

Aww, thanks, Scrappy!

Not really here. Actually releasing documents, completing audits, and updating manuals. Like A Boss.

Steph, you're Dad is not the only one who is obsessing about matching his future son in law in a wedding.

I'm trying to be chill about it. It could be so much worse. I know Dad just wants to feel included, wants people to know he's Not Just A Guest, wants to feel honored, etc. I get that. t edit Plus he might have been whacked out on percocet when he decided he wants to be twinsies with my future husband (CREEPY), and has already totally forgotten it. (OTOH, I know my brother -- who is officiating -- bought a black suit, and if Dad shows up and he thinks Jeff and Tim "match" but he doesn't, he'll be pissed. So maybe I should just encourage him to drop $400+ on a suit he'll only wear once. I don't even know.)

It's still weird that he's the parentzilla, rather than my mom (other than some incredibly insulting things she posted on FB after my shower, but really, for a narcissist who can't stand not being the center of attention, she's been behaving incredibly well).

I'm always happy to see you here, Epic!

I've been feeling kind of absent myself lately. The thing I try to remember is that we will always be Buffistas and people will always care about us here, even if we have to take a break from time to time.

Askye, yikes. And Tep, I hope things are getting better with your dad or that you've found more spoons to help you deal with the craxy.

X-post: I'm sorry to hear your mom posted nasty comments.