Who Owns Your Genes?

Chris Hansen, senior staff counsel for the national American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), was lead counsel in the ACLU's challenge of patents on two human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. The 2009 lawsuit charged that the patents are illegal and restrict both scientific research and patients' access to medical care. It also argued patents on human genes violate the First Amendment and patent law as "products of nature." Hansen has worked as an attorney with the national ACLU since 1984, acting as lead counsel in a wide variety of landmark cases, including the historic and successful challenge to federal Internet content regulations. He received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School and holds an undergraduate degree from Carleton College. Part of the National Affairs Series.