How does the law evolve in response to technological revolutions? What happens when innovations outpace legal frameworks, challenging the definitions and boundaries that once seemed clear? These questions have haunted legal systems for centuries, from the invention of the steam engine to contemporary frontier life science research, ranging from synthetic biology through to quantum-driven biotechnologies. In this sense, every new technology has the potential to give rise to new questions that stretch the limits of existing legal systems, forcing courts and regulators to assess new scenarios and adapt existing legal systems. This tension is particularly apparent in the field of biotechnology, where breakthroughs are not only altering our ability to manipulate natural biological systems but are also altering industries as diverse as health and energy, as well as reshaping fundamental legal concepts. One such breakthrough, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, is at the forefront of this challenge for several reasons. Particularly, 3D bioprinting raises profound questions about the adequacy of current patent systems, as it compels us to reconsider whether, and in what ways, inventions transform naturally existing elements.