The largest gene technology company in China has applied for 3,700 patents at home and for over 800 patents from the International Patent Cooperation Union abroad.

The patents involve genes dealing with cancer, obesity, high blood pressure and senile dementia, which are of high value for clinical use and new medicine development, sources said.

The Shanghai United Gene Technology Group Co. Ltd. set as its basic strategy the obtaining of self-owned gene patents since its founding, said the company's vice president.

With a total capital of 1 billion yuan (120 million US dollars), the company is a privately owned enterprise which concentrates on genetic cloning, gene sequence, biological information, genetic chips and gene medicines.