Who killed the EnviroPig? Assemblages, genetically engineered animals and patents

In many countries, the patenting of genetically engineered animals is now largely uncontroversial. In this paper, I argue that assemblage theory offers an alternative analysis of patents and genetically engineered animals. This emphasises heterogeneity and relations, and focuses attention on the processes of territorialisation (stabilisation) and deterritorialisation (destabilisation). More specifically, by conceptualising the genetically engineered EnviroPig as an assemblage of heterogeneous actants I uncover some of relations between different actants such as pigs, manure, the environment, patents, industry and advocacy groups, regulatory frameworks and so on. I also situate patents within the EnviroPig-assemblage and show that while patents cannot, in themselves, make genetically engineered animals live they do have the capacity to both stabilise and destabilise a genetically engineered assemblage. In the end, though, patents (legally) are just one actant in an assemblage, and the case of the EnviroPig points out the contingent and situational nature of patented life forms, and the complexity and instability of the bricolages which are necessary to bring them into the world and maintain their existence. The story of the EnviroPig-assemblage shows a genetically engineered life cut short by a mixture of actants including the complexities of regulatory frameworks, environmental and animal welfare concerns, and organised resistance from activists and anti-GM advocacy groups.