Biogenetic resources - the critical biological and chemical materials that underpin so much of medicine, both modern and traditional, agriculture, and wider economic activity in so many fields - are at the centre of heated debate regarding their use, development, and ownership, and the issues of ethics and equity that impinge on all of these factors.

Part 1: Knowledge, Property and Trade Sovereignty, Common Heritage and Property Rights Biotechnology and the Expanding Boundaries of Intellectual Property Protection The International Law of Biogenetic Resources and Intellectual Property Part 2: Conflicts and Controversies National Sovereignty, Benefit Sharing and the Patenting of Life Biopiracy Environmental Impacts Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition Beyond Intellectual property: Technological Protection Systems Life Science Innovation, Biotechnology Transfer and Developing Countries Part 3: Protecting Traditional Knowledge Traditional Knowledge and the Intellectual Property System Alternative Approaches to Traditional Knowledge Protection Part 4: Forums, Processes and Initiatives International Forums and Processes Government and Regional Initiatives Part 5: National Case Studies: India Kenya Lessons of the Case Studies