Recent Advances In Marine Biotechnology Vol 8

This book presents the most recent information on the molecular genetics of marine organisms. It provides the reader a major thrust toward a better understanding of the present state of research on the molecular genetics of marine organisms.

Presents information that can be useful to facilitate the aquaculture of a wide variety of food species. Operation of an economically successful aquaculture venture depends upon the complete life cycle of a species occurring in captivity. Possible solutions to how such complete control of life cycles of important food organisms might be accomplished are presented in each chapter. Whereas this volume (Part A) deals with Seaweeds and Invertebrates, a compendium volume (Part B) deals with Fishes.

The marine environment has been, and continues to be, a fruitful source of novel chemical compounds that are not found in terrestrial and freshwater organisms. Many of these substances show potential biomedical applications, which could lead to development of new pharmaceutical products. Research on the utilization of natural products from marine organisms is growing by leaps and bounds; one important reason why being that, investigators, through new diving technologies, are becoming able to explore at greater depths. Studies of these marine natural products include investigations of neuronal membrane-active toxins, ion channel blockers, antitumor and antiviral agents, and anti-inflammatory molecules. This volume is the sixth in the ongoing series.

This book serves as essential reading for research scientists and biotechnologists from both academia and industry working in marine biotechnology and related disciplines. The book discusses recent advances and challenges in terms of science, technology, innovation, and policy for the development of the field; and how marine biotechnology may provide new solutions to some of the grand challenges faced by our society. Written in an accessible language, the book is also recommended as a reference text for decision-makers in government and non-governmental organizations in their efforts to foster the development of a global blue economy. With less than 5 % of the vast and rich marine environment explored, our seas and oceans represent a virtually unexplored resource for the discovery of novel product, processes, and development of bio-inspired synthetic drugs with biotechnological potential. As such, the marine environment has been considered Earth's last frontier of exploration. Recent advances in molecular techniques are providing the necessary tools to access on a larger scale the still-untapped ocean resources and, consequently, unveil the promise of the blue biotechnology. Governments are recognizing the potential of marine biotechnology to provide solutions to some of the Grand Challenges of the 21st Century such as sustainable energy and food sources, identification of novel drugs for improved health treatments, and providing new industrial materials and processes. For this reason, advances in marine biotechnology may foster the much-needed source of innovation and economic growth in many countries, and pave the way towards the development of a global blue economy, i.e. a new economic model based on the sustainable exploration of our ocean ecosystems.

Marine organisms have been found to be sources of numerous compounds that have applications in industry, agriculture, and medicine. This volume explores ongoing efforts to develop these natural products into commercially viable materials. The book deals with a range of topics, such as photobioreactors, industrial applications of chitosanases, carrageenans from red algae, anticoagulants from marine algae, anti-HIV compounds from red algae and biomass production as a source of energy by pyrolysis.