A grandmother's home remedies are NOT considered a commercially valuable resource today. But the chapter suggests they could become one if:
AMore grandmothers were available
BThey were patented and marketed by a pharmaceutical company
CThey were practised only by certain families
DThey were kept secret from everyone
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. They were patented and marketed by a pharmaceutical company
The chapter uses home remedies as an example of how time + technology + commercial structure together create value. A traditional remedy that has cultural value today can become economically valuable tomorrow if formalised, patented and marketed. This is one reason for ongoing debates around 'biopiracy' — the patenting of traditional knowledge by global pharmaceutical companies.
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