Case study 4 A small biotechnology company in Mexico has discovered a gene that encodes a protein in the network of resistance to oxidative stress in plants
Laboratory experiments have shown that when the gene is transferred by genetic modification techniques to crop species, the crop plants show an enhanced capacity to grow and produce yield under conditions where waters supply is limiting
The company has not published its data because it is filing a patent on the gene
If the patent is granted, the company plans to license it out to a major trans-national agri-chemical company
Question: should the patent be granted? Give your reasons.