Marine Natural Products Discovery in Australia: From Reef to Royalty, and the Pursuit of Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) Compliance -

Language:

Home: ABOUT: Biology: Marine Genetics

an expanded view of Topics and Knowledge in the Atlas

Login for Members

Username

Password

	Forgotten your Password?
	Not a Member? Join Now
	Getting started

Navigate the Atlas:

4 SUB-TOPICS:

Topic Overview

Editors

KO Overview

Owner

Marine Genetics

Maintained by CoML

Text-only Printer-friendly version

Marine Genetic Resources

Genome of Salinospora tropica from Bahamian mud may produce pharmaceuticals

It is agreed that marine genetic resources have great potential value and we are finding ways they might be put to use for the benefit of all. We need to consider the potential environmental and biological consequences of exploring for them; while remembering that resources can be depleted, and their exploitation can have unintended consequences.

The major issues that were discussed at the UN Consultative Committee Meeting in New York, 24-29 June 2007 included

nature of marine genetic resources and the status and sources of knowledge
activities such as scientific investigation, bioprospecting, exploitation
supporting, regulating and provisioning services
organisms and areas of interest
anthropogenic stresses
relevant international agreements including intellectual property rights and the protection of the marine environment
current activities.

Based on the report of the Secretary-General of the UN on oceans and the law of the sea to the sixty-second session of the General Assembly, Chapter X marine genetic resources (A/62/66 paras. 126 to 249)

Other issues for discussion included

marine scientific research,

socio-economic implications deriving from the use of marine genetic resources

capacity-building in developing countries

legal and institutional frameworks related to marine genetic resources

incentives for the sustainable use of marine genetic resources.

Photo title: Genome of Salinospora tropica from Bahamian mud may produce pharmaceuticals

Photo credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla

Barcoding Marine Life

In all living cells, genetic information is stored in DNA molecules. A DNA barcode is a short DNA sequence that can discriminate species and aid in the classification of unknown species. These barcodes are being determined for many marine animal species in association with Census of Marine Life (CoML) activities and ocean realm field projects. Efforts are underway to more fully coordinate CoML barcoding efforts with the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL). CBOL is an international initiative devoted to developing DNA barcoding as:

an accurate and useful tool for scientific research on the taxonomy of animal and plant species;

a practical, cost-effective aid to assigning unidentified specimens to their correct species; and

a system for expanding interest and activity in taxonomy. See More...

All (9)

News (4)

Documents (4)

Contacts (1)

Title

Marine Natural Products Discovery in Australia: From Reef to Royalty, and the Pursuit of Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) Compliance ( DOCUMENT )

Author(s) / Editor(s)