Bach said he is more concerned about technologies such as xenotransplantation, which could put society at risk because of the possibility of viruses being transferred from transplanted animal organs into humans.
According to Lee M. Silver, a professor of molecular biology at Princeton, the capability to clone and genetically engineer humans is closer ever.
"This is more a political question than a scientific question. Scientists have never retained control of what they discover," he said.
However, some speakers said politicians have not stepped up to the plate to address some of these pressing issues on corporate versus public rights.
Jonathan King, professor of molecular biology at MIT, said that although leaders in Europe have begun to discuss issues of patenting genes, the United States has not.
"Congress has avoided any hearings on these issues," he said.
He also disputed the notion that patenting genes is required for continued biomedical research.
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