In a decision by Justice Thomas, the Supreme Court has ruled that you cannot patent natural human genes.  However, you can patent modified genes.  The case, Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., involved the patenting of BRAC 1 and BRAC 2 genes which are involved in certain breast and ovarian cancers. Myriad had discovered the location of and the sequencing of these genes and attempted to patented them.  Molecular Pathology wanted to use those genes to develop cancer treatments.