In the 1950s, the African yam was exploited by drugs firm Boots to produce cortisone. But South Africans fought back against the plundering of a plant that they used for traditional healing.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Articles on Bioprospecting
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Pharmaceutical companies focus on small molecules they’ve devised – and can easily patent. But nature’s already come up with many antibacterial compounds that drug designers could use to make medicines.
Bio-prospecting is the search for useful materials from natural sources. A biologist explains what we can learn from bacteria about breaking down plant material, and how we can use that knowledge.
We have barely begun to tap into the pharmaceutical potential of the most diverse animals of all.
Good models have been developed to ensure benefit sharing in the biodiversity business. But major challenges prevent developing countries from translating this into social justice.
The next cancer breakthrough could be found in international waters – but who’s in charge of the high seas?
How scientists and corporations are plundering the developing world for new substances.
Top contributors
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Research Fellow, Iddri
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Professor and DST/NRF Bio-economy Research Chair, University of Cape Town
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Coordinateur du programme « Océans et zones côtières », Iddri
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Chercheuse en développement durable, sciences sociales et technologie, Grenoble École de Management (GEM)
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Entomologist, Zoologist and Visiting Research Fellow, University of Leeds
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Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
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Virology Research Scientist, University of Washington
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Professor, University of Oxford
