Difference between revisions of "Future marine biotechnology research"

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(New page: ===Sustainable exploitation of the marine environment, and bio-prospecting=== A major challenge in the field of marine biotechnology is to develop an efficient procedure and structure for...)
 
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A major challenge in the field of marine biotechnology is to develop an efficient
 
A major challenge in the field of marine biotechnology is to develop an efficient
procedure and structure for the discovery of novel biomolecules in the [[marine environment]]. The high level of biodiversity of marine
+
procedure for the discovery of novel biomolecules in the marine environment. The high level of [[biodiversity]] of marine organisms makes them a prime target for bio-prospecting: a wide range of novel biomolecules are produced by these organisms, ranging from bioactive molecules and enzymes of interest for medicine to biopolymers with
organisms makes them a prime target for bioprospecting:
+
diverse industrial applications. Microbes are particularly under-sampled and have great
a wide range of novel
+
potential, since a recent survey of proteins in the ocean has found thousands of new families with unknown functions.  
biomolecules are produced by these organisms,
+
 
ranging from bioactive molecules and enzymes
+
There already exist some elements which can help to efficiently exploit this resource. These include marine stations with extensive biological expertise and sample-collection facilities and companies with the facility to develop novel biomolecules for industrial applications. An effort is required to bridge the gap between these elements and their potential industrial partners.
of interest for medicine to biopolymers with
+
<P>
diverse industrial applications. Microbes are
+
<BR>
particularly under-sampled and have great
+
===Secondary metabolites, chemical biodiversity and biodiversity===
potential, since a recent survey of proteins in
+
 
the ocean has found thousands of new families
+
Biochemical studies on marine organisms are very important, not only for the discovery of new drugs and biological tools, but also for better comprehension of ecosystems and, hence, better management of biodiversity. However, during the last twenty years, the study
with unknown functions. Some of the elements
+
of the chemistry of natural products from biodiversity became dominated by the search
necessary to efficiently exploit this resource on
+
for active molecules directed towards drug production. This has sometimes sidetracked the scientific investigation of chemical effects and reduced the potential for this
a European level already exist, including marine
 
stations with extensive biological expertise and
 
sample-collection facilities and companies with
 
the facility to develop novel biomolecules for
 
industrial applications.
 
An effort is required to couple these elements
 
via the promotion of bioprospective analysis of
 
marine samples and the creation of
 
intermediate structures, such as biomolecule
 
collections and screening facilities, to bridge
 
the gap between the biologists and their
 
potential industrial partners.
 
Secondary metabolites,
 
chemical biodiversity and
 
biodiversity
 
Biochemical studies on marine organisms are
 
very important, not only for the discovery of
 
new drugs and biological tools, but also for
 
better comprehension of ecosystems and,
 
hence, better management of biodiversity.
 
However, during the last twenty years, the study
 
of the chemistry of natural products from
 
biodiversity became dominated by the search
 
for active molecules directed towards drug
 
production. This bias has sometimes sidetracked
 
the scientific investigation of chemical
 
effects and reduced the potential for this
 
 
approach to solve crucial questions in areas
 
approach to solve crucial questions in areas
 
such as:- examination of the interactions
 
such as:- examination of the interactions
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clarify the link between biodiversity and
 
clarify the link between biodiversity and
 
chemodiversity.
 
chemodiversity.
Model development
+
 
 +
 
 +
===Model development===
 +
 
 
In many areas of research, modelling is proving
 
In many areas of research, modelling is proving
 
very effective, particularly with respect to slowly
 
very effective, particularly with respect to slowly

Revision as of 13:44, 3 September 2009

Sustainable exploitation of the marine environment, and bio-prospecting

A major challenge in the field of marine biotechnology is to develop an efficient procedure for the discovery of novel biomolecules in the marine environment. The high level of biodiversity of marine organisms makes them a prime target for bio-prospecting: a wide range of novel biomolecules are produced by these organisms, ranging from bioactive molecules and enzymes of interest for medicine to biopolymers with diverse industrial applications. Microbes are particularly under-sampled and have great potential, since a recent survey of proteins in the ocean has found thousands of new families with unknown functions.

There already exist some elements which can help to efficiently exploit this resource. These include marine stations with extensive biological expertise and sample-collection facilities and companies with the facility to develop novel biomolecules for industrial applications. An effort is required to bridge the gap between these elements and their potential industrial partners.


Secondary metabolites, chemical biodiversity and biodiversity

Biochemical studies on marine organisms are very important, not only for the discovery of new drugs and biological tools, but also for better comprehension of ecosystems and, hence, better management of biodiversity. However, during the last twenty years, the study of the chemistry of natural products from biodiversity became dominated by the search for active molecules directed towards drug production. This has sometimes sidetracked the scientific investigation of chemical effects and reduced the potential for this approach to solve crucial questions in areas such as:- examination of the interactions between species; chemical indications of environmental variation; understanding biodiversity at the molecular scale, and comprehending the molecular reactivity and its impact on biological functions. The challenge for the next ten years will be to explore the significance of the variation in rates of metabolite production in model organisms, including microbes, in terms of interaction with the environment and of response to environmental changes (climatic, pollution, exceptional phenomena). To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to study the role of the bioactive molecules within communities, their roles in inter/intra-specific competition for space and resources, and their role in defence against predators and pathogens. This will promote parallel studies in taxonomy, phylogeny, phylogeography and chemistry and clarify the link between biodiversity and chemodiversity.


Model development

In many areas of research, modelling is proving very effective, particularly with respect to slowly developing and predictable systems. However, in a period of rapid change such as we are experiencing, irregularities are extremely important. Ecosystems are non-linear and inherently unpredictable, and we must develop models that cope with episodic and irregular events and identify trends and depict scenarios. It should be emphasised, however, that empirical data and mechanistic understanding derived from experiments are essential to underpin models, particularly where regionallyfocused models 66 are required.