With technology moving on as it does, patenting single genes for use in targeted tests will soon become pointless. In a few years (it is happening already), exome sequencing, followed by variant confirmation via Sanger sequencing (directly sequencing the gene, not using a patented kit) will be the normal way to do diagnostics. Nobody will be paying for a single (or even multi) gene testing kit.

Now, if companies decide to try and patent entire exomes (or genomes), things may turn nasty.

My 2 cents (or pennies, where I hail from).

I apologise for the use of the word 'idiotic', I must have been in a bad mood. My point however, is still valid. This treatment is not a cure, but it is true that it may alleviate symptoms to the point of extending life to allow successful procreation. However, (speaking as a father) I would not want to risk any child of mine having this disease, even if this treatment was successful, any male child would still likely die before I did.

As to your final point, I would tend to disagree. Who decides what is 'good' for the human race?

This could increase the rate of this disorder in the whole human race.

Idiotic thing to say for an X-linked disease such as DMD. Females can carry one copy of the gene without showing any symptoms, therefore natural selection cannot breed this disorder out of the population. Males with the disorder generally die before they are old enough to father a child.

Modded +5 informative? Can I borrow your TARDIS please?

What exactly do you have against cockroaches?

FYI I think you mean Apes - but why stop there? I say go for the evolutionary jugular - the Amoebas. After all, 'pirates' are pond-life right?

Quick, somebody report a bug to Microsoft. Free Cell and Hearts need a patch!