# Mice Engineered to Develop Cancer for Research > Harvard's 1988 patent on genetically engineered mice that carry cancer-causing genes, designed to help scientists study how cancer develops and test treatments. - **Patent:** US 4736866 - **Original title:** Transgenic non-human mammals - **Owner:** Harvard University - **Granted:** 1988 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 644 - **Field:** biotech, pharmaceutical, research_tools ## What it does This patent describes how to create a special kind of mouse, called a transgenic mouse. Scientists can insert a specific gene, known as an oncogene (which can cause cancer), into the mouse's DNA when it's still an embryo. This oncogene becomes part of every cell in the mouse, including the cells that will create future generations (germ cells). The goal is to create mammals that are predisposed to developing cancer, allowing researchers to study the disease's progression and test potential therapies in a living model. For example, claim 12 specifies that the mammal can be a mouse, and claim 6 mentions using a c-myc oncogene. ## What it does NOT cover - Mice that develop cancer naturally without genetic engineering. - Transgenic animals that are not mammals (e.g., birds, fish). - Genetically modified animals where the inserted gene is not an oncogene. - The use of the engineered animals for purposes other than cancer research. - Methods of treating cancer in humans or animals, only the creation of the model. ## The clever bit The key innovation was engineering a mammal that reliably develops cancer from birth, allowing for controlled study, rather than relying on spontaneous mutations or less predictable models. This provided a consistent platform for research that was previously unavailable. ## Real-world examples 1. Oncomice (genetically engineered mice used in cancer research) 2. Harvard's OncoMouse® ## Why it matters This patent, often referred to as the 'Oncomouse' patent, was one of the first to allow for the creation of genetically modified animals specifically for disease research. It enabled the development of animal models for studying cancer, which were crucial for advancing our understanding of the disease and for testing new drugs. The patent was also the subject of significant legal and ethical debates regarding patenting life forms. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Mice Engineered to Develop Cancer for Research cover? Harvard's 1988 patent on genetically engineered mice that carry cancer-causing genes, designed to help scientists study how cancer develops and test treatments. ### Who owns patent US 4736866? Harvard University owns this patent, granted in 1988. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 4736866 cited by? This patent has been cited by 644 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent, often referred to as the 'Oncomouse' patent, was one of the first to allow for the creation of genetically modified animals specifically for disease research. It enabled the development of animal models for studying cancer, which were crucial for advancing our understanding of the disease and for testing new drugs. The patent was also the subject of significant legal and ethical debates regarding patenting life forms. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Mice that develop cancer naturally without genetic engineering. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4736866/harvard-oncomouse **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US4736866 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Making Hybrid Antibodies from Different Animals](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4816567/recombinant-antibody-production-in-cho-cells) — This patent describes how to create new, engineered antibodies by combining parts of antibodies from two different animal species, then growing them in a lab. - [Using Genetically Modified Viruses to Target and Treat Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9492534/yescarta-axicabtagene-ciloleucel) — A method for creating a modified vaccinia virus that safely hunts down and kills tumor cells while leaving healthy tissue alone. - [How Genetically Modified T-Cells Fight CD19 Cancers](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9481728/compositions-and-methods-for-treatment-of-cancer) — This patent describes how to create and use genetically modified human T cells that target and kill cancer cells expressing the CD19 protein, offering a new way to treat blood cancers. - [How Engineered Antibodies Target TGF-beta Proteins to Fight Cancer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/7527791/ipilimumab-yervoy) — This patent describes specific engineered antibodies, made from mouse and human parts, designed to block TGF-beta proteins to help treat various cancers like breast or lung cancer. - [How to Redesign Mouse Antibodies for Safe Use in Humans](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/6054297/rituxan-chop-chemotherapy) — Genentech's 1995 patent on a systematic method for humanizing rodent antibodies by grafting their disease-targeting loops onto a human consensus framework while carefully swapping key structural support residues to maintain binding strength.