Many people who consider the question of patenting genes and organisms find themselves first asking the question of whether it is morally right to grant such ownership. For some, like many whose decision is founded in a religious faith, this is a simple question to answer. Others feel that an answer can be found only after a number of individual questions have been weighed. How will the commodification of genes and organisms affect the ongoing process of scientific research? Will the granting of patents on individual genes have an overall negative or positive impact on the standard of medical care? Only after the potential benefits are balanced against the potential costs can an overall appraisal of the impact of such decisions on society be determined. What follows is a brief consideration of the major arguments involved in the debate of genetic patenting. After each description you will find references to specific chapters of the forthcoming book Who Owns Life?, where you can find a more complete discussion of the points at hand.