Marine Biotechnology in the Twenty-First Century Problems, Promise, and Products (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Keynote Address
Keynote Address
Pages 37-44
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From page 37... ...
ONorkshop Abstracts: Biomedical Applications · :....
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From page 38... ...
Beginning in the mid-198Os, these efforts turned toward potential biomedical applications of novel chemical substances found in sponges and related colonial marine invertebrates. In this process, over 2,500 structurally diverse compounds have been found in marine plants and animals, and several of these compounds have been successfully interfaced with the pharmaceutical industry.
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From page 39... ...
These discoveries include hundreds of marine microorganisms and invertebrates with the potential of producing new pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, or nutraccuticals; new ways to raise fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and algae in aquaculture; and new ways to sense marine environmental changes. Yet, marine biotechnology is still a promise to be fulfilled while other areas of biotechnology have flourished both in science and in the marketplace.
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From page 40... ...
The agricultural sector has also experienced tremendous progress since the market introduction of the genetically engineered Flavr Savr tomato in 1994. Canola, corn, cotton, peanuts, potatoes, soybeans, sunflowers, and tomatoes are all more productive due to biotechnology.
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From page 41... ...
Fifteen other compounds isolated from marine organisms, many of which were discovered with the assistance of the National Cancer Institute's Natural Products Branch, are in clinical trials or earlier stages of drug development. One anti-inflammatory substance, a partially purified pseudopterosin extracted from the Caribbean sea whip, the soft coral PseudLopterogorgonia elisaIDethae, has been licensed for use in skin-care products.
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From page 42... ...
As I forecasted in 1983, the merger of genetic engineering with marine science created an opportunity for ocean research to provide products to improve humanity. Despite the advances in the identification and screening of organisms for biologically active compounds, production of sufficient amounts of the compounds depends on a number of factors.
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From page 43... ...
At the NSF's Biological Oceanography Program workshop "Ecological Genomics: The Application of Genomic Sciences to Understanding the Structure and Function of Marine Ecosystems," it was suggested that a Virtual Marine Genome Center be established to contract out highthroughput genomics and to aid in the selection of organisms for sequencing. One of the requirements for the growth of marine biotechnological research is the increased use of genomics to learn more about the oceanic environment.
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From page 44... ...
I urge the participants in this workshop to put our combined knowledge to use and help society move forward to solve health and food-supply problems with the tools and research results of marine biotechnology.
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