Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
9.2.1 Recent developments in scientific research related to marine genetic
resources
Reaching deep-sea environments and maintaining the sampled organisms alive and bioact-
ive, as well as analysing and culturing them, requires sophisticated and expensive techno-
logies . Typically, this technology includes oceanographic vessels equipped with manned or
unmanned submersible vehicles and in situ sampling tools, as well as technology and tech-
niques related to molecular biology and DNA sequencing (Aricò and Salpin, 2005 ) . With
the exception of basic molecular biology techniques, most of the technology necessary for
accessing the deep sea and studying and isolating its organisms is therefore owned and op-
erated by research institutions in a very few countries (Arnaud-Haond et al ., 2011 ) .
Efforts are ongoing to develop improved methods of purification, isolation, screening,
and identification of novel bioactive compounds from marine organisms, and to better un-
derstand the role and functions of marine microorganisms in ocean ecosystems. In particu-
lar, work is seeking to: improve metagenomic screening and libraries; better understand the
patterns of distribution of genetic diversity; reduce genetic erosion in the context of relevant
conservation programmes encompassing the genetic level of biodiversity; improve the ca-
pacity to culture microorganisms, most of which are currently unculturable in laboratories;
shorten lead times in drug discovery; and scale-up natural product purification from analyt-
ical to pilot level. New identification methods for marine genetic resources include those
given in Box 9.2 . Work also continues on developing ways to track and monitor genetic re-
sources through the use of persistent global unique identifiers. A tracking system would al-
low each genetic resource and its derivatives, such as sequence data, to be tracked from the
point of origin through one or more users (United Nations, 2009 ). However, this raises is-
sues of cost and effectiveness. In that regard, including disclosure requirements in databases
may provide a more cost-effective option.
Box 9.2 Most current identification methods for marine genetic resources
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