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'Treasure Trove' In Oceans May Bring Revolutions In Medicine and Industry

Posted by Soulskill on from the or-may-bring-sea-monsters dept.

dryriver sends this excerpt from the Guardian: "Scientists have pinpointed a new treasure trove in our oceans: micro-organisms that contain millions of previously unknown genes and thousands of new families of proteins. These tiny marine wonders offer a chance to exploit a vast pool of material that could be used to create innovative medicines, industrial solvents, chemical treatments and other processes, scientists say. Researchers have already created new enzymes for treating sewage and chemicals for making soaps from material they have found in ocean organisms. 'The potential for marine biotechnology is almost infinite,' says Curtis Suttle, professor of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences at the University of British Columbia. 'It has become clear that most of the biological and genetic diversity on Earth is – by far – tied up in marine ecosystems, and in particular in their microbial components. By weight, more than 95% of all living organisms found in the oceans are microbial. This is an incredible resource.'"

4 of 107 comments (clear)

  1. Not allowed! by cvtan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Too bad PETA will not allow us to exploit bacteria in this cruel manner. You have to ask their permission first. Individually.

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    Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
  2. Re:Industry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You are entirely right! Industry prefers to have the government research it and then take the credit and profits for the research. Just like industry prefers to have small businesses take the risks and then steal the business and profit from them.

  3. Re:Almost infinite? by JWSmythe · · Score: 5, Interesting

        It means that we'll farm it to the edge of extinction, and then ponder what happened to them all... Kinda like...

    Hunting whales for blubber, and then wondering why there whales are almost extinct.

    Using pesticide on virtually everything, and then wondering why bees are dying off.

    Farming marginally arid land, and being surprised by the result.

    I'm not an environmentalist wingnut. Sometimes the answer to "what could possibly go wrong" is really obvious.

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    Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
  4. Re:Great! by Genda · · Score: 5, Funny

    Its krill or be krilled