What is patentable?

The United States Supreme Court and Chief Justice Warren E. Burger wrote that U.S. Congress had intended patentable subject matter to "include anything under the sun that is made by man," (in re Diamond v. Chakrabarty). Seems pretty clear the intended patent laws to be fairly broad with respect to subject matter.

Here are some very interesting examples:

• Computer Software
  • Tool Tip Bubble
  • Pinch Zoom
• Business Methods
  • Bilski
  • Mortgage Loan
• Biology
  • Mouse (Harvard)
  • DNA
• Some Rather Bizzare Patents
  • Comb-over
  • Life Support