[ivyleaguebrat]

My point isn’t that these discoveries definitely will not lead to profitable applications, its just that right now we can’t specifically foresee any.

Currently, private biotech companies “stand on the shoulders” of discoveries funded by the taxpayer. However, I see no indication that removing that private funding will have it replaced by private funding. I think it more likely that basic/pure research will simply slow down dramatically, and along with it the training of new scientists.

[ivyleaguebrat]

That should read "I see no indication that removing that public funding will have it replaced by private funding..."

[allmendream]

Indeed, much of the direct research into genes and protein mechanisms of control and action funded by government grants feeds directly into the quest for applications that could find cures and treatments for disease and disability among biotech companies.

We are a world leader in biotechnology. We supply the world with innovative medicines that those socialist bastards insist we cut them a flat rate deal on or they will just copy the molecular structure!

We sequenced the genome first! An accomplishment of private enterprise and American know-how our can do spirit.