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Marine biotechnology: An approach based on components, levels and players

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Title Marine biotechnology: An approach based on components, levels and players
 
Creator Raghukumar, Seshagiri
 
Subject Marine biotechnology
Organisms
Applications
Processes
Players
 
Description 609-619
Marine biotechnology may be viewed from the perspective of three
issues, namely components, levels of research and the players or researchers. (1)
The three components are organisms, applications and processes. Access to known
organisms and the discovery of unique ones are basic requirements. Sustainable
harvesting is the key for accessing marine invertebrates. An alternative is the
development of cell culture methods and ecosystem conservation. Establishment
of microbial culture collections of organisms difficult to access or cultivate,
such as deep-sea and anaerobic microbes, obligate marine fungi and
phytoplankton is an important facilitator. Extremophilic organisms from the deep-sea
and cold environments are useful candidates for novel applications. Genomics
and metagenomics are emerging as powerful tools in discovering useful genes. Application
of organisms constitutes the second component of biotechnology. A search for
candidate organisms for applications should be based on intelligent screening,
while innovative applications of unique properties of organisms need to be
established. The former is exemplified by novel drugs from coral reef
invertebrates, marine polysaccharides and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Adhesive
proteins of molluscs, biomimetics and nanolevel cell wall organization in
diatoms are examples of intelligent applications. Process development and
improvement for new and existing technologies are the final determinants of a
technology. (2) The three levels are established, emerging and exploratory
technologies. It is important to recognize this in order to decide who does
what. (3) The key players are the academia and industries. Participation and
collaboration of the two must be viewed in light of different levels of
biotechnology. Improvement of established technologies belongs more to the
realm of industries. Emerging technologies offer the best platform for their
collaboration, while exploratory technologies are the domain of academic
institutions.
 
Date 2011-11-18T04:20:14Z
2011-11-18T04:20:14Z
2011-10
 
Type Article
 
Identifier 0975-1033 (Online); 0379-5136 (Print)
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/13069
 
Language en_US
 
Rights CC Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India
 
Publisher NISCAIR-CSIR, India
 
Source IJMS Vol.40(5) [October 2011]