# MPEP § 2404.02: Biological Material That Can Be Made or Isolated Without Undue Experimentation

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.02

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 2404.02
- **Heading:** Biological Material That Can Be Made or Isolated Without Undue Experimentation
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 2400 - Biotechnology / MPEP § 2404.02

## Text

Applicant may show that a deposit is not necessary even though specific
biological materials are required to practice the invention if those biological
materials can be made or isolated without undue experimentation. Deposits may be
required to support the claims if an isolation procedure requires undue experimentation
to obtain the desired biological material.
Ex Parte Jackson,
217 USPQ
804 (Bd. App. 1982). No deposit is required, however, where the required biological
materials can be obtained from publicly available material with only routine
experimentation and a reliable screening test.
Tabuchi v. Nubel,
559
F.2d 1183, 194 USPQ 521 (CCPA 1977);
Ex Parte Hata,
6 USPQ2d 1652
(Bd. Pat. App. & Int. 1987).

## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 2401 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2401.md)
- [MPEP § 2402 The Deposit Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2402.md)
- [MPEP § 2403 Deposit of Biological Material](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2403.md)
- [MPEP § 2403.01 Material Capable of Self- Replication](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2403.01.md)
- [MPEP § 2403.02 Plant Material](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2403.02.md)
- [MPEP § 2404 Need or Opportunity to Make a Deposit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.md)
- [MPEP § 2404.01 Biological Material That Is Known and Readily Available to the Public](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.01.md)
- [MPEP § 2404.02 Biological Material That Can Be Made or Isolated Without Undue Experimentation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.02.md)
- [MPEP § 2404.03 Reference to a Deposit in the Specification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.03.md)
- [MPEP § 2405 Acceptable Depository](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2405.md)
- [MPEP § 2406 Time of Making an Original Deposit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2406.md)
- [MPEP § 2406.01 Description in Application Specification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2406.01.md)
- [MPEP § 2406.02 Deposit After Filing Date - Corroboration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2406.02.md)
- [MPEP § 2406.03 Possible Loss of U.S. Filing Date in Other Countries](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2406.03.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.02. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.