# MPEP § 2404.03: Reference to a Deposit in the Specification

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.03

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 2404.03
- **Heading:** Reference to a Deposit in the Specification
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 2400 - Biotechnology / MPEP § 2404.03

## Text

37 CFR
1.802(c)
specifically provides that the mere reference to a
biological material in the specification disclosure or the actual deposit of such
material does not create any presumption that such referenced or deposited material is
necessary to satisfy
35 U.S.C. 112
, or that a deposit in accordance with these
regulations is or was required. It should be noted, however, that a reference to a
biological material, present in an application upon filing, may form the basis for
making a deposit, where required, after the filing date of a given application but that
the reference to the biological material, itself, cannot be added after filing without
risking the prohibited introduction of new matter (
35 U.S.C. 132
). See the discussion
of the Lundak application in
MPEP § 2406.01
.
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## 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)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2404.03. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.