Chakrabarty, a 1979 decision upholding a patent on bacteria that had been genetically modified to break down crude oil.

FORBES: Big Question For Supreme Court: Can You Patent A Gene?

Like the beginning of every great science fiction movie, experts claim that they've discovered a cure for our fuel-dependency woes that only requires an army of genetically modified bacteria... that eat wheat straw and excrete crude oil.

ENGADGET: Scientists create mutant bugs that produce crude oil, unleash swarm of merciless killers