2. What is Bioprospecting?
• Bioprospecting, also known as biodiversity
prospecting, is the exploration of biological
material for commercially valuable genetic and
biochemical properties.
• In simple terms this means the investigation of
living things to see how they can be
commercially useful to humans.
3. • When biodiversity or related knowledge is collected
without permission from the owners of these resources
and then patented, it is known as biopiracy.
• Traditional or indigenous knowledge (IK).
4. Concept of Bioprospecting
• Extreme environments, provide habitats for
“extremophiles”, organisms with unique characteristics
developed for survival.
• The biological processes and materials which enable
these extremophiles to survive in extreme temperatures,
pressures, salinity etc, and other unique conditions are
sources of great potential for scientific advancement and
commercial application.
5. • These Enzymes derived from extremophiles have been
used in detergents, food processing, cleaning, dyeing,
medical diagnosis, skin protection products, and
forensics.
• Bioprospecting of marine environments is conducted
almost exclusively in regions at extreme depths
specifically around submarine trenches, cold seeps,
seamounts and hydrothermal vents.
6. Examples
• Thermus aquaticus – PCR
• Aequorea victoria – GFP for glofish
• Antarctic ice fish – anti freeze protein
• LAL - Limulus amebocyte lysate (Rapid microbiological
test)
7. Process of Bioprospecting
• As a process, it generally consists of four phases:
• Phase 1: on-site collection of samples;
• Phase 2: isolation, charactisation and culture of specific
compounds;
• Phase 3: screening for potential uses, such as
pharmaceutical or other uses; and,
• Phase 4: product development and commercialisation,
including patenting, trials, sales and marketing.
