(CNN) -- Can companies patent human genes? It was the question considered by an Australian federal court judge who on Friday ruled that a U.S. biotech company was within its rights to hold Australian patent 686004. That patent covers mutations of the human gene BRCA1 which point to a greater hereditary risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The same gene, along with another, BRCA2, is at the center of a high-profile lawsuit in the U.S. set to be heard by the Supreme Court in April. That lawsuit argues that patents on human genes violate the First Amendment and U.S. patent law because genes are "products of nature" and therefore can't be patented, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
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Australian federal court rules patent on human gene testing valid
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Mutations of gene BRCA1 increase risk of breast, ovarian cancer
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Cancer advocacy group had challenged biotech companies' right to patent
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Biotech company Myriad Genetics fighting separate challenge in the U.S.
According to Myriad Genetics' website, approximately 7% of breast cancer cases and up to 15% of ovarian cancer cases are caused by mutations in the @placeholder and BRCA2 genes.