Bio-prospecting can be best understood by splitting them into two parts:-
Bio- any biological material (floral or faunal parts)
Prospect- it's prudential use
therefore, bio-prospecting means exploration and buying of biological materials for studying and then to finally change them into products of commercial interest
Bio-prospecting is the scientific research that looks for useful products in the nature to create pharmaceuticals. Compensation has to be given to the community or the country from where the natural resource has been obtained. Bio-piracy is the development of these pharmaceutical products without giving compensation to the community that nurtured and protected the organisms on which these products are based.
Genetic engineering to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Cloning of animals like Dolly the sheep. CRISPR technology for gene editing. Use of bioremediation to clean up environmental pollutants. Production of recombinant proteins like insulin. Development of biopharmaceuticals like vaccines and antibodies. Biofuels production from plants like corn and algae. Agricultural biotechnology for crop improvement and pest resistance. Bioprospecting for novel compounds from natural sources. Use of synthetic biology to engineer biological systems for specific functions.
A bioprospector is a person who is engaged in bioprospecting - the methodical search for novel pharmaceutical products from plants and microorganisms.
Companies are particularly interested in bioprospecting because it offers the potential to discover new biological resources that can lead to innovative products, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agricultural solutions. By exploring biodiversity, they can identify unique compounds and genetic materials that may have valuable applications. Additionally, bioprospecting can enhance sustainability efforts by promoting the use of natural resources while fostering environmental conservation. This approach not only drives economic growth but also encourages collaboration with local communities and indigenous knowledge systems.
Target heat shock proteins and chaperones for bioprospecting of genes with reference to microbes. For anoxia in fish and salt for shripm we can target the genes by suppressive substractive hybridization library of fish and shrimp growing under normal conditions with that of the ones growing under stress.
Bioprospecting of genes and allie mining and abiotic stress means harnessing the information stored inside plants, animals or microbes thriving under harsh conditions in the form of genetic information in the genes and their utilization for industrial applications. Survival of the fittest is well known and universally accepted. So organisms having unique properties by virtue of which they protect themselves can be of industrial importance. The genetic information for such traits can be retrieved and would have implications in abiotic stress tolerance. Genes can be used to engineer microorganisms, plants etc. for targeted applications.
Bio-prospecting is the scientific research that looks for useful products in the nature to create pharmaceuticals. Compensation has to be given to the community or the country from where the natural resource has been obtained. Bio-piracy is the development of these pharmaceutical products without giving compensation to the community that nurtured and protected the organisms on which these products are based.
A bioprospector is a scientist or researcher who searches for and investigates natural resources, such as plants, animals, or microorganisms, that have potential applications in various fields like medicine, agriculture, or industry. They explore biodiversity to discover new compounds or characteristics that can be utilized for commercial or scientific purposes.
Marine resources are vital for ecological balance, providing habitat and food for a diverse range of wildlife. They contribute significantly to the global economy through fisheries, tourism, and bioprospecting for pharmaceuticals. Additionally, marine ecosystems play a crucial role in regulating climate by sequestering carbon and producing oxygen. Sustainable management of these resources is essential to preserve biodiversity and support human livelihoods.
Biodiversity benefits the economy by providing essential ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and pest control which support agriculture and industry. It also offers potential for new medicines, materials, and technologies through bioprospecting. Additionally, diverse ecosystems can enhance tourism and recreation, creating job opportunities and economic growth.
Genetic engineering to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Cloning of animals like Dolly the sheep. CRISPR technology for gene editing. Use of bioremediation to clean up environmental pollutants. Production of recombinant proteins like insulin. Development of biopharmaceuticals like vaccines and antibodies. Biofuels production from plants like corn and algae. Agricultural biotechnology for crop improvement and pest resistance. Bioprospecting for novel compounds from natural sources. Use of synthetic biology to engineer biological systems for specific functions.
a) prohibit the patenting of all life forms, including plants and animals and parts thereof, gene sequences, micro-organisms as well as all processes including biological, microbiological and non-biological processes for the production of life forms and parts thereof; (b) ensure the protection of the innovations of indigenous and local farming communities and the continuation of the traditional farming practices including the right to save, exchange and save seeds, and sell their harvest; (c) prevent anti-competitive practices which threaten food sovereignty of people in developing countries; and (d) to protect the rights of indigenous communities and prevent any private monopolistic intellectual property claims over their traditional knowledge.
Here are ultimate tensile strengths for 3 types of silk from three different species of silk worm:Atlas: 29,000 psi [200 MPa]Mori: 94,000 psi [650 MPa]Trifasciata: 87,000 [600 MPa]I found these values in this paper:Fractographic analysis of silkworm and spider silkP. Poza *, J. Perez-Rigueiro, M. Elices, J. LLorcaDepartamento de Ciencia de Materiales, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, E.T.S. de Ingenieros de Caminos, 28040 Madrid, SpainI also found tensile data for some spider silk. This paper studied their best estimate of the species of spider that would give the highest tensile values: C. Darwini from MadagascarC. Darwini: 268,000 psi [1850 MPa]I found these values and a discussion in:Bioprospecting Finds the Toughest Biological Material: Extraordinary Silk from a Giant Riverine Orb SpiderPublished: September 16, 2010Citation: Agnarsson I, Kuntner M, Blackledge TA (2010) Bioprospecting Finds the Toughest Biological Material: Extraordinary Silk from a Giant Riverine Orb Spider. PLoS ONE 5(9): e11234. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0011234
The main importance of plants in our lives are that they take in Carbon Dioxide (Co2) that we breath out and in place theylet out oxygen which we breath in. Without plants we would run out of oxygen and die very quickly. This applies not just to us humans but to all animals as well.They are also the source of food. Animals eat plants or other animals and we eat the plants or the animals that depends on other animals and/or plants.Jack12220A huge majority of modern pharmecuticals are derived from plants found in their natural ecosystem. Although sythesizing chemicals for medicen is possible, it is much cheaper to derive them from naturally occurring sources. Bioprospecting (harvesting plants in a foreign region to create products, especially medicine) is a huge industry in the Amazon rainforest.RoyKnows22