Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
developed applications based on deep-sea genetic resources). Moreover, Verenium Corpor-
ation is engaged in collecting small samples of soil, water, sediment, leaf litter, or other
materials from the environment in order to reduce the impacts of its activities on sensitive
ecosystems, on the basis of the assumption that '[s]mall sample sizes provided abundant
genetic samples for our collection of microbial gene libraries, which is estimated to contain
Such codes of conduct can contribute to responsible scientific behaviours, in addition
to advancing our knowledge of the ecosystems studied. At the same time, they can contrib-
ute to developing capacity in marine scientific research through north-south cooperation
(InterRidge), as well as furthering the potential of applications based on marine genetic re-
sources within the private sector (Diversa/Verenium Corporation).
Recent developments in good practice related to scientific research on marine genetic
resources include mechanisms for sharing of information through dedicated open-access
internet-based databases. Examples of such databases are the United Nations
University-Institute of Advanced Studies Bioprospector database (ATCM,
2008
); the Gor-
don and Betty Moore Foundation Marine Microbial Genome Sequencing Project (J. Craig
is referred to in more detail in
Chapter 12
of this topic .
The identification and adoption of practical measures to further capacity-building, in-
cluding through south-south cooperation, as well as the facilitation of access to samples of
marine genetic resources and the transfer of technology, are desired developments related
to marine genetic resources. Discussions on capacity-building measures which have taken
place in the context of the UN General Assembly Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working
Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological
diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (the 'Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working
Group') and the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law
of the Sea (the 'ICP') seem to have had a limited concrete impact on the development of
potential measures in this regard thus far.
