British casino waitress Donna MaClean is taking no chances. In today's harsh world, this 31-year-old woman has taken perhaps a most pragmatic decision: to patent herself specially so that she can protect herself from "genetic exploitation." A spokesperson at the Patent Office confirmed MaClean's application: "We have received a patent application from Donna, entitled 'Myself'."

MaClean says, "It has taken 31 years of hard labour to invent myself. It may sound odd, but I want to make sure I can protect myself from unauthorised exploitation, genetic or otherwise." And why not? After all patent rights can be acquired on anything to protect one's right. So one should patent oneself first to face the challenges ahead, points out MaClean.

This unusual episode comes at a time when the scientists of the world are in a hurry to decode human genes so that they can find cures for diseases such as cancer.