What are some reasons for supplementing a biological deposit?

Supplementing a biological deposit may be necessary when the original deposit has lost certain qualities but remains viable. The MPEP provides examples:

“The term ‘supplement’ is directed to those situations where the earlier deposit is still viable in the sense that it is alive and capable of replication either directly or indirectly, but has lost a quality (e.g., purity, functionality) it allegedly possessed at the time the application was filed.”

Common reasons for supplementation include loss of purity, reduced functionality, or changes in other important characteristics of the biological material.

To learn more:

• Biological Deposits
• Patent Application
• Biotechnology
• Supplement Deposit
• Deposit Quality