This work examines the requirements for patentability in the context of biotechnology, with a special focus on the non-obviousness requirement. It analyzes non-obviousness as applied to biotechnology molecular products via a review of the relevant case law. The work begins with a typology of recombinant inventions, useful in determining ultimate non-obviousness and patentability. It distinguishes three categories of recombinant products: (1) Translation inventions, obtained by entering a known molecular information into a known process, (2) Molecular modification products, obtained by modifying prior art molecules, and (3) Combination inventions, obtained by combining several known functional molecular units.