Ex Parte Kashima et al - Page 6

               Appeal 2007-1627                                                                            
               Application  09/870,009                                                                     

                      We agree with the Examiner that claim 5 reads on naturally occurring                 
               DNA.  Darnell1 provides a diagram of a retrovirus integrated into cellular                  
               DNA (Darnell 973, Figure 24-13).  The retroviral DNA includes a gene                        
               portion (the gag, pol, and env genes) and a portion other than the gene                     
               portion (the long terminal repeat (LTR)).  All of the viral sequences are “not              
               naturally occurring” in the chromosomal DNA of the virus-infected host.                     
                      Thus, the cellular chromosomal DNA with integrated provirus                          
               comprises a                                                                                 
                      •  “gene portion including a predetermined gene” (the viral gag, pol,                
               and/or env gene);                                                                           
                      •  a “portion which is other than said gene portion” (the LTR); and                  
                      •  a “nucleotide sequence which is not naturally occurring in said                   
               DNA which is embedded in said portion which is other than said gene                         
               portion” (any of the viral LTR sequence).                                                   
                      Finally, the embedded viral sequence “comprises source identification                
               information which identifies a source of said predetermined gene in said                    
               gene portion.”  That is, the viral LTR sequences are different from the host                
               chromosomal sequence and differ from one retrovirus to another.  Thus, for                  
               example, an integrated HIV provirus comprises LTR sequences that identify                   
               the source of the rest of the proviral DNA (including the gag, pol, and env                 
               genes) as the human immunodeficiency virus.  We agree with the Examiner                     
               that claim 5 reads on a retrovirus integrated into a host cell’s genomic DNA,               
               and therefore encompasses nonstatutory subject matter.                                      
                                                                                                          
               1 Darnell et al., “Molecular Cell Biology,” 2nd edition, Scientific American                
               Books, 1990, pp. 971-975 (copy attached).                                                   
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