MEHAK SHARMA

ROLL NO. 1100819

Msc. EVS Sem 3rd
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

WHO DOES ?
PROCESS

EXAMPLES

MERITS

DEMERITS
WHAT IS BIOPROSPECTING?

Explorationof biodiversity for commercially valuable genetic

and biochemical resources.
-Eishner 1989, Ried et al. 1993
The systematic search for genes, natural compounds, designs
and whole organisms in wild life with a potential for product
development by biological observation, biophysical, biochemical
and genetic methods without disruption to nature.
-Nicolas Mateo et al., 2001
 WHO DOES BIOPROSPECTING?

•Pharmaceutical, agribusiness
(biotechnology, seed, crop protection and
horticulture) , cosmetics and personal care,
fragrance, botanicals and the food and
beverage industries.
•The pharmaceutical and agri-business
sectors are more involved.
PROCESS OF BIOPROSPECTING

As a process, it generally consists of four phases:

PHASE 1 : on site collection of samples;

PHASE 2 : isolation, characterization and culture
of specific compounds;
PHASE 3 : screening for potential uses, such as
pharmaceutical and other uses; and,
PHASE 4 : product development and
commercialization, including patenting, trials,
sales and marketing.
 EXAMPLES

oThermus aquiticus – PCR

oAequorea victoria – GFP for glofish

oAntarctic ice fish – anti freeze protein

oLAL – Limulus amebocyte lysate (Rapid

microbiological test)
 MERITS OF BIOPROSPECTING

Important phenomenon for new discovery of

drugs.
Discovery of several life saving drugs including
anti-neo plastic drugs.
Economical value of plants and living
organisms for pharmaceutical purposes is
enormous and also to the host country having
indigenous species.
DEMERITS OF BIOPROSPECTING

The pharmaceutical companies cheat the local

peoples those who maintain the indigenous species,
they don’t give proper economical share to them.
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).