Monsanto argues that its patents extend to later generations.

But Bowman's supporters argue that Monsanto is trying to expand the scope of patents in ways that would enrich big corporations and hurt small farmers

This case gives the court an opportunity to rein in the growing use of patents to protect genetically engineered crops and other life forms―but the court may well use it to give this trend a powerful new endorsement.

These same universities are also the institutions producing the greatest share of PhD?graduates, science citations, patents and licence income.

A federal appeals court overturned the prior decision, ruling that Myriad Genetics could indeed hold patents to two genes that help forecast a woman's risk of breast cancer.

Companies are eager to win patents for "connecting the dots", explains Hans Sauer, a lawyer for the BIO.

Companies are unlikely to file many more patents for human DNA molecules - most are already patented or in the public domain.

Companies had won patents for isolated DNA for decades-by 2005 some 20% of human genes were patented.

Critics make three main arguments against gene patents: a gene is a product of nature, so it may not be patented; gene patents suppress innovation rather than reward it; and patents'monopolies restrict access to genetic tests such as Myriad's.

Curbs on business - method claims would be a dramatic about-face, because it was the Federal circuit itself that introduced such patents with its 1998 decision in the so-called State Street Bank case, approving a patent on a way of pooling mutual- fund as

For example, it is unclear whether the sequencing of a whole genome violates the patents of individual genes within it.

In 2005, IBM noted in a court filing that it had been issued more than 300 business-method patents, despite the fact that it questioned the legal basis for granting them.

Last April, for example, the justices signaled that too many patents were being upheld for "inventions" that are obvious.

Last year a federal task-force urged reform for patents related to genetic tests.

Later, more established companies raced to add such patents to their files, if only as a defensive move against rivals that might beat them to the punch.

Now the nation's top patent court appears completely ready to scale back on business-method patents, which have been controversial ever since they were first authorized I0 years ago.

Over the past decade, thousands of patents have been granted for what are called business methods.

similarly, some Wall Street investment firms armed themselves with patents for financial products, even as they took positions in court cases opposing the practice.

The BIO recently held a convention which included sessions to coach lawyers on the shifting landscape for patents.