Conrad Gorinsky
Conrad Gorinsky (March 7, 1936 – August 18, 2019)
Patent controversy
Rupununine
Gorinsky patented tipir as rupununine (after the nearby
The Wapishana tribe grind this nut and use it to stop bleeding and as an abortifacient which provokes miscarriage. They wanted the patent rescinded, but Gorinsky replied:
"Tough, isn't it?", he says. "I was not the only person looking at the greenheart. I just picked up a nut and said 'what can I do with this?'. I have analysed the chemical structure but I have not patented the tree or a life process. How can I tell the Wapishana about the science? They just inherited the greenheart. They don't own it. I have invested in this with my own money".[3]
Cunaniol
Gorinsky was one of several who isolated a potent chemical from certain plants that the tribe used for fishing. The natives called the plant cunani, after which Gorinsky called the chemical "cuaniol". Affected by this potent neurotoxin, fish in the surrounding area become disoriented and can easily be caught. Gorinsky patented the use of cunaniol for the treatment of heart disease. The chemical is also known as ichthyothereol.
Controversy
The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity, as part of its aim of protecting the knowledge of forest tribes from exploitation, nationalised plant resources and forbid individuals from patenting organic compounds from them. Tribespeople accused him of committing biopiracy by stealing their secrets.[4][1]
Footnotes
- ^ a b "Guyana-born Chemist and Ethno-botanist – Conrad Gorinsky – Dead at 83". August 31, 2019.
- ^ Hanbury-Tenison, Robin (1991). Worlds Apart: An Explorer's Life. Arrow Books. pp. 115–128.
- ^ Patenting life, Biopirates who seek the greatest prizes, John Vidal, The Guardian, Wednesday 15 November 2000 [1]
- ^ "Interview: Bio-pirate or saviour of native knowledge?". New Scientist (reprint): 50–51. July 22, 2006. Archived from the original on September 2, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.