1. Introduction.
2. Biotechnology and Society.
3. Patenting Culture in Science.
4. Patenting Micro-Organisms: the Chakrabarty Case.
5. Different Types of Biotechnological Innovations.
6. International Treaties.
7. Safety Considerations for Transgenic Organisms.
8. Intellectual Property Rights and Plant Genetic Resources.
9. Conservation of Medicinal Plants.
10. Patenting cDNA Sequences: the NIH Controversy.
11. NIH Patent Policy.
12. Patenting Human Gene Therapy.
13. IPR in a North-South Context.
14. Is a Uniform IPR System Necessary?
15. Ethical Issues in Transfer of Technology.