Difference between revisions of "Future marine biotechnology research"

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(Sustainable exploitation of the marine environment, and bio-prospecting)
(Secondary metabolites, chemical biodiversity and biodiversity)
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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
 
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
 
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
+
for active molecules directed towards drug production. This has sometimes sidetracked the scientific investigation from solving crucial questions in areas such as:
approach to solve crucial questions in areas
+
 
such as:- examination of the interactions
+
*examination of the interactions between species
between species; chemical indications of
+
*chemical indications of environmental variation
environmental variation; understanding
+
*understanding biodiversity at the molecular scale
biodiversity at the molecular scale, and
+
*comprehending the molecular reactivity and its impact on biological functions.
comprehending the molecular reactivity and its
+
 
impact on biological functions.
+
The challenge for the next ten years will be to explore how model organisms, including microbes, vary their production of metabolites in interaction with the environment and as a response to environmental changes ([[climatic|climate change]], [[pollution]], exceptional phenomena).  
The challenge for the next ten years will be to
+
 
explore the significance of the variation in rates
+
To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to study the role of the bioactive molecules within communities, their roles in competition for space and resources, and their role in defence against predators and pathogens. This will promote parallel studies in [[taxonomy]],
of metabolite production in model organisms,
+
[[phylogeny]], phylogeography and chemistry and clarify the link between biodiversity and
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.
 
chemodiversity.
 
  
 
===Model development===
 
===Model development===

Revision as of 13:58, 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 from solving crucial questions in areas such as:

  • examination of the interactions between species
  • chemical indications of environmental variation
  • understanding biodiversity at the molecular scale
  • comprehending the molecular reactivity and its impact on biological functions.

The challenge for the next ten years will be to explore how model organisms, including microbes, vary their production of metabolites in interaction with the environment and as a response to environmental changes (climate change, pollution, exceptional phenomena).

To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to study the role of the bioactive molecules within communities, their roles in 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 regionally focused models are required.