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European Union trade ministers last week approved a directive on patenting
biotechnological inventions that they think will finally pass muster with the
European Parliament. MEPs have rejected every previous proposal. The directive,
which the parliament will see again in March, would allow a DNA sequence to be
patented only when its biological function is understood. The directive would
also ban changes to humans that can be passed on, and any modification of
animals that causes suffering without being of medical benefit.