Once a reagent has been published, it is supposed to be distributed freely, within reason, to other labs. My colleague, Marta, says that her competitors regularly spread the word that they have gotten a particular result but then significantly postpone publication so that they can retain exclusive use of their reagents. A Thousand Points of Light Yet competition is beneficial because it allows for different views and data to be generated. Two groups studying the same question may come up with opposing results or different interpretations of the same data. Similar work by competing researchers can challenge or confirm our conclusions.
Competition drives some to pursue novel ideas.
Fortunately, there are many advisers who allow and even encourage their graduate students to learn and explore. Like parents letting go of their children, they let their students venture out on their own, learning from their successes and failures. But even these fortunate graduate students are not immune to competition. The supportive adviser seeks avenues to rescue the student's work such as collaboration or simultaneous publication. Students who work in a relatively uncompetitive field or who work for an adviser who allows them to think for themselves benefit from learning from their mistakes and the peace of mind of a low-pressure environment.