BIOPROSPECTING by Russell Paterson (Editor), Nelson Lima (Editor) ( 9783319479330 )

Item Details

Title:

BIOPROSPECTING

By:

Russell Paterson (Editor), Nelson Lima (Editor)

Format:

Hardback

List price:	£139.99
We currently do not stock this item, please contact the publisher directly for further information.

ISBN 10:

3319479334

ISBN 13:

9783319479330

Publisher:

SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG

Pub. date:

21 December, 2016

Edition:

1st ed. 2017

Series:

Topics in Biodiversity and Conservation 16

Pages:

303

Synopsis:

This book considers all aspects of bioprospecting in 14 succinct chapters and a forward by David Hawksworth. The organisms addressed include plants, insects, fungi, bacteria and phages. Bioprospecting has never been more relevant and is of renewed interest, because of the extremely worrying rise in novel, resistant pathogenic microorganisms. The practices in pharmaceutical companies have failed to deliver novel antibiotics to control these infections. We need to look for new sources of drugs from the environment on a massive scale as drug discovery is "too important to fail". Furthermore, the field can add great value to ecosystems in terms of economics, while providing additional reasons for maintaining associated services, such as food provision, benign climate, effective nutrient cycling and cultural practices. Bioprospecting provides another reason why climate change must be reduced in order to preserve relevant environments. Previous bioprospecting projects should be re-visited and established biodiversity centres have a major role.Many different ecosystems exist which contain unique organisms with the potential to supply novel antibiotics, enzymes, food, and cosmetics, or they may simply have aesthetic value. The book stresses the difficulties in obtaining successful products and yet describes why natural products should be investigated over combinatorial chemistry. Personal experience of bioprospecting projects are given significance. Issues such as how to share the benefits equitably with local communities are described and why pharmaceutical companies can be reluctant to be involved. Legal issues are discussed. Finally, there has never been a better time for a new book on bioprospecting, because of the need to preserve ecosystems, and from the emergence of resistant pathogenic microorganisms.

Illustrations:

25 black & white illustrations, 19 colour illustrations, 19 colour tables,

Publication:

Switzerland

Imprint:

Springer International Publishing AG

Returns:

Returnable

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