Bioprospecting is the process of finding naturally occurring products that can be turned into medicine, primarily, and in other cases industrial reagents. This is an increasingly important avenue of new medicine and has a track record of producing v…
Bioprospecting is the process of finding naturally occurring products that can be turned into medicine, primarily, and in other cases industrial reagents. This is an increasingly important avenue of new medicine and has a track record of producing valuable results.
There are many possible targets and products to explore. Only a few are touched on in this video. An example that many biology students would know is called Green Fluorescent Protein. A gene that can inserted into an organism which will lead to it producing a protein that glows under a black light.
This is not the limit but an area that has yet to be fully explored with GMO technology ever more important.
More personal developments include analgesics. Two of the most significant are aspirin and morphine. These are naturally occurring compounds that have been found in nature and than refined. Finding these natural products is hassle when done with out any clues.
This is normally addressed through large scale projects. In other cases native/ indigenous knowledge is used as a starting point. In an increasing reliance and use of technology data bases are mined for clues. An example of this being done with microbes is in the links below.
Bioprospecting is not just a necessary process in drug developments. It is important in enzymes for laundry detergent. Dyes for textiles and more.
Obviously this leads to financial interests in bioprospecting. This leads to companies exploring the plants, animals and knowledge of native populations. There have been examples of these knowledge sources being misused. This disproportionate power dynamic has now been partly resolved through international law.
Relevant links:
Wiki: Maya ICBG bioprospecting controversy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_ICBG_bioprospecting_controversy
Bioprospecting
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/bioprospecting
Scientist at work: Bio-prospecting for better enzymes
https://theconversation.com/scientist-at-work-bio-prospecting-for-better-enzymes-72335
Ecology and bioprospecting
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3380369/
New antibiotics developed from frog skin
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/7965736/New-antibiotics-developed-from-frog-skin.html
Computational Tools and Databases of Microbes and Its Bioprospecting for Sustainable Development
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-13-0053-0_20
