Social issues related to gene patenting in Latin America: A bioethical reflection

The chapter reports on the experiences of both experts and lay people on the level of knowledge and social representations of genomic research and its applications in a number of Latin American developing countries. Issues discussed include access to prevention and therapeutic methods related to genomic medicine in Latin America, risks associated to genetic modifications in humans, lack of equity in the access to health benefits, control by biotechnological companies, commercialization of gene sequences through patents which leads to commercial exploitation of underdeveloped countries, among others.