The number of registered patents pertaining to genes in Shanghai hit a record high of 2,800 in 2000, ranking firs in China, sources said recently.

The registered patents are functional genes, gene chip, genic medication used to destroy tumors.

Institutions, such as Southern Research Center of the National Human Genome Project and Fudan University, have launched most of the patent applications.

The Shanghai municipal government started to provide financial assistance to patent applications in 1999.

With the development of biological sciences, patent agents specializing in gene-related technologies have occurred in this east China metropolis.