Ananda ChakrabartyBorn 4 Apr 1938.Indian-American biochemist who patented the first genetically engineered life-form (U.S. No. 4,259,444) which he created while working on the research and development staff of General Electric (1971-79). The new single cell life form was the Pseudomonas bacterium, now called Burkholderia cepacia, which had the potential to clean up toxic spills because of its ability to break down crude oil into simpler substances that could even become food for aquatic life. This ability is possessed by no naturally occurring bacteria. His original patent application was rejected. Eventually, by appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, on 16 Jun 1980 it was decided that new forms of life could be patented if they are the outcome of human ingenuity.« |
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