From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Genetic breakthroughs, patents, and profits.

Hello again, I'm Arminolny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Mapping the human genome began the biological gold rush of the 21st century, with companies now owning patents on 4,000 human genes. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to strike down two patents on genes that helped doctors discover both breast and ovarian cancer. Nobody can do that without paying myriad genetics, which isolated the genes,

but opponents argue the genes are products of nature.

We'll hear about a case with long-term implications for personalized medicine designed to serve the needs of each individual patient.

On reporter's notebook later on, why can't the IRS just complete your

income tax and send you a bill? First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Marmonaulay, back with To the Point.

Companies get patents on human genes to give them incentive to conduct expensive research

into what those genes can reveal about an individual's chances of contracting disease.

But is that patenting life itself?

We heard about today's arguments that the U.S. Supreme Court

in a case that could determine the future of personalized medicine. On reporter's notebook would

return free filing by the Internal Revenue Service save billions of dollars and millions of hours

or be too much government, even if it's voluntary. First, this news update. The late

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