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True Psychrophiles and Part Time Psychrophiles in the Antarctic
Citation
Bowman, JP, True Psychrophiles and Part Time Psychrophiles in the Antarctic, Scientific and Geopolitical Interests in Arctic and Antarctic, Learning in Geography, Humanities, Technology and Science, R Ramesh, M Sudhakar and S Chattopadhyay (ed), New Delhi, India, pp. 223-242. ISBN 9789350679081 (2013) [Research Book Chapter]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2013LIGHTS (Learning in Geography, Humanities, Technology and Science)
Official URL: http://www.lights.org.in/sagaa/index.php
Abstract
Given that Polar environments still represent a 'frontier' to many, there is
an inclination to still explore these ecosystems not for the broader interests in ecological knowledge but rather for more immediate concerns. The desire to
harness biological diversity as a resource is well known and a highly vigorous
endeavour driven by the continuous demand for new resources and innovations
beckon new directions and opportunities. For example it is abundantly clear
we need new or improved pharmaceuticals for dealing with infectious disease
as well as other pervasive medical conditions, such as cancer and Alzheimer’s
disease. Since biodiscovery is inherently empirical, scattershot approaches are
often too hopeful and unfocused for anything substantial to be gained. However,
with greater knowledge on how microbes function and their genetic contents,
value can be gained and in addition gain a greater appreciation of associated
environmental services as well as metabolic capacities and idiosyncrasies. Thus
bioprospecting for novel pharmaceutical activity, cold active enzymes, and
unusual and/or new biological products should take an intelligent directed
as well as in-depth approach in order to realise value and understanding.
To achieve this we need knowledge about microorganisms at a functional,
mechanistic and genetic level and not just taxonomic and phylogenetic.
Item Details
Item Type: | Research Book Chapter |
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Keywords: | polar biodiversity, biodiscovery, psychrophiles, bioactive compounds, polar microbes |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Microbiology |
Research Field: | Microbial ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
Objective Field: | Biodiversity in Antarctic and Southern Ocean environments |
UTAS Author: | Bowman, JP (Associate Professor John Bowman) |
ID Code: | 84540 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Deposited By: | Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture |
Deposited On: | 2013-05-17 |
Last Modified: | 2014-08-22 |
Downloads: | 10 View Download Statistics |
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