marine biotechnology

1. Marine biotechnology
Marine biotechnology

2. What is Marine Biotechnology?
Marine biotechnology is an area where
products are derived or developed from
a wide variety of marine animals and
plants.

3. Evolution of Biotechnology
There is evidence to show that application of
biotechnology to marine products and processes have
taken place throughout history.
Use of marine plants for the use of indigenous
medicine and toxicology stands out.
Some early scientists;
1. Rachel Carson (1907-1964)
2. Dr. Robert Ballard (1942- )
The latest trend here has become cities under water
and fluorescent fish pets

4. Topics for the day
Fuel from algae
Medical applications
Antibacterial agents
Marine toxins
Transgenic fish
Fluorescent fish pets
Aqua culture
Probing the marine environment

5. Fuel from algae
• Algae fuel is an alternative to liquid fossil fuel
• Eco friendly
• Uses algae as its source of energy rich oil

6. Medical Applications
• Uses many underwater plants
ex; Secosteroids (corals) enzyme to treat
asthma
• Fouling organisms, Bugula is used as anti cancer
compound
• Yondelis a sea squirt used to treat Sarcoma disorders

7. Antibacterial Agents
• Cure infectious diseases:
marine sponges
• Marine diatoms are used to cure disorders in blood
• Steroid glycosides are used to cure anti microbial and hypercholestrol
conditions
• Phenol compounds are extracted from marine algae for disinfection

8. Transgenic Fish
• Many species of fish specially ones that belong to class Agantha are
genetically modified to produce new traits that make them look
better.
• GM fish are used in scientific research and kept as pets.

9. Fluorescent fish pets
• They are genetically modified fish that glow in the dark.
• This will reduce the need of aquarium lights.
• In addition they also have high resistivity against allergies.

10. Aquaculture
• Known as fish or shellfish farming
• This includes the production of seafood from hatchery fish .
• They are a quality range of food high in nutrients.

11. Probing the marine environment
Biotechnology has contributed to marine research in the following
ways.
• DNA probes and PCR can be used to identify new organisms without
having to capture the organisms.
• Micro plankton(the basis of the marine food chain) can be identified
and tagged so that ecological processors such as primary production
can be studied.
• Microbes that cause disease in polluted areas can be identified.

12. Future marine biotechnology
• Development in reduction of harmful mutations in aquatic organisms.
• Quality of sea food to increase.
• Reduction in extinction of marine organisms significantly.

13. References
• Attaway, dand,marine biotechnology 2002
• www.osinga.lk
• Drugs from the sea volume 38
• www.marine biotechnology edu.lk
• Drugs and cosmetics from the sea volume 73

14. Group members
• Hasanka
• Denethi
• Shonuka
• Sanduni