Question

What is biodiversity prospecting?

Answer 1

Hint: Biodiversity is the diversity in living organisms in species, genetics and ecosystem levels. Prospecting is a search to explore something new. The act of prospecting the diverse organisms in different ecosystems will help in discovering compounds that would improve the quality of life.

Complete answer:
Biodiversity, also known as bioprospecting, is a systematic exploration for natural molecular compounds, which has huge commercial and economic value in pharmaceutical, agriculture, cosmetics, bioremediation, aquaculture and biotechnology related industries. When a potential compound is discovered, it is analysed and screened for its commercial value. Once approved for use, the plant source can be cultivated on a larger scale to produce more product. This will in turn accelerate research, generate more revenue to the rural and regional people. Some of the bioprospecting-derived products are: annonins from the seeds of custard apple as pesticide, laccase enzymes from fungi to treat wastewater from beef factory, algal derived oligosaccharides to treat erythema and anti-fungal drug obtained from soil fungi. Currently, bioprospecting is performed on the lesser ventured ecosystems like seas and oceans.

Note: Even though bioprospecting is beneficial, it is criticized for its extensive exploitation and environmental damage caused. However, a number of legislations have been passed to combat this. Another major disadvantage of bioprospecting is biopiracy, a practice in which the knowledge of the indigenous people is utilized to commercialize and monetize the product. The pre-existing knowledge of indigenous sources cannot be considered as a new discovery and products developed from it infringes the rights of the natives. Neem tree was similarly patented under European patent in 1994 which was later revoked as it is indigenous to India.