Biotechnology applications (Task 3.3)

This task reviews available information on marine organisms with a view to predicting their capability to produce new bioactive substances.

Background and Rationale

Marine biotechnology is a scientifically fascinating and economically expanding field which harnesses the enormous but yet uncharted gene pool and functional diversity of marine life and tries to find new genes, organisms, biosensors, natural products, and unusual biochemical processes of importance to industry, nutrition, medicine and the environment. Transfer of technology of this type can have a major impact in the future biotechnology applications in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea .

This task reviews information on marine organisms in relation to their capability to produce novel bioactive substances. Particular attention will be given to cells from marine multicellular organisms (e.g. sponges) with potentially interesting properties.

Task leader

Franz Brümmer- (franz.bruemmer@bio.uni-stuttgart.de)

Participants