What defines a Markush Group in patent claims?

A Markush group in patent claims refers specifically to a method of claiming that allows for alternative elements within one claim. This is commonly used to describe a set of alternative compounds or components that share a common function or structure. Markush groups are defined in the context of patent law to grant broad protection for a range of related inventions within a single claim.

The correct answer accurately highlights that a Markush group is structured to illustrate alternative elements within a claim, providing inventors with the flexibility to include variations of the elements without the need to draft separate claims for each variation. This practice is essential for encompassing a broader scope of protection for an invention, which can be critical in fields like pharmaceuticals or materials science, where variations can lead to different but related compounds.

In patent practice, using terms like "comprising" or "including" allows for more flexibility, but these terms do not specifically encapsulate the idea of a Markush group as effectively as claiming alternatives in a structured way does.