ABSTRACT
The application of the fields of genetic engineering and genomics to important crop varieties produces what are known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or genetically engineered (GE) varieties. Almost all the intellectual property embodied in GMOs is protected by utility patents. The first is the use of GE organisms to produce pharmaceuticals for livestock. The second are GE organisms used in fermentation and other processes to process agricultural products for food or feed. In addition to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it included the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Plant Protection Act grants USDA broad authority to conduct or sponsor research on plant pests. The U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) law provides the HHS with broad authority to conduct research on a wide variety of topics in biotechnology as these relate to human health.
