Ex Parte Lal et al - Page 2

                  Appeal 2007-2517                                                                                         
                  Application 10/311,196                                                                                   
                                               STATEMENT OF CASE                                                           
                         The invention relates to a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) having                               
                  the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.  Claims 1-7, 9, 11, 16, 17, 19,                                 
                  22, 25, and 26 are pending (Br. 2).  Claims 19, 22, 25, and 26 are withdrawn                             
                  from consideration (Br. 2).                                                                              
                         Claims 1-7, 9, 11, 16, and 17 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C § 101 as                              
                  lacking utility; under 35 U.S.C § 112, first paragraph, as failing to teach how                          
                  to use the claimed rejection; and under 35 U.S.C § 112, first paragraph, as                              
                  failing to comply with the written description requirement (Answer 3, 6).                                
                         All the claims stand or fall together within each rejection because                               
                  Appellants’ did not provide separate reasons for the patentability for any of                            
                  the individual claims.  See 37 C.F.R. 41.37(c)(1)(vii).  We select claim 1 as                            
                  representative for the purpose of deciding all issues in this appeal.  Claim 1                           
                  reads as follows:                                                                                        
                         1.  An isolated polypeptide selected from the group                                               
                         consisting of:                                                                                    
                         a)  a polypeptide comprising SEQ ID NO: 2;                                                        
                         b)  a polypeptide comprising at least 500 contiguous amino                                        
                         acids of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the polypeptide has taste-                                         
                         specific receptor activity.                                                                       

                                                     DISCUSSION                                                            
                         The issue in this appeal is whether the instant application discloses a                           
                  specific and substantial utility for the claimed invention.  Appellants’                                 
                  contend that their application discloses that the claimed polypeptide having                             
                  the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 is a human taste-specific receptor                               
                  useful for screening new sweetener compounds (Br. 4, 9).  The Examiner                                   
                  contends that instant application does not disclose that the claimed                                     

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