Bioprospecting--definition

1. Bioprospecting--definition Dr. Keiki-Pua S. Dancil Native Hawaiian Community Temporary Advisory Commission on Bioprospecting 10Jul07 **This is my interpretation for discussion purposes and exclusive use by commission only. Content for first four slides extracted from Peter Pan Report.

2. What is bioprospecting?* • In neutral terms, bioprospecting involves the exploration for any biological resource, otherwise termed "biodiversity," for potential commercial use (pg.3).

3. Sample collection--minimal • Bioprospecting involves searching for, identifying, and collecting appropriate biospecimens (pg. 4). • In addition, bioprospecting uses various cutting-edge technologies to process and develop genetic material from these specimens that exhibit characteristics desirable in a commercial product. It is the genetic material, not the biospecimen itself, that is of interest (pg 4). • Generally then, it would be inefficient, irresponsible, and unnecessary for bioprospectors to collect massive volumes of plants or animals for processing (pg 4). • Consequently, it is a misconception that bioprospecting decimates an organism's population to near extinction and denudes entire rainforests like wholesale strip-mining for gold. • Bioprospecting firms or their partners or clients generally need only a few specimens to extract the genetic material they need (pg 4).

4. Bioprospecting does NOT equal Biotechnology • Bioprospecting does frequently use advanced biotechnological processes and techniques (pg 9). • However, it is only a very small subset of the vast field of biotechnology. • According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, biotechnology "means any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.“

5. What Bioprospecting is NOT:(a few examples) • GMOs • Koa logging (or any other logging) • Fishing • Collecting noni • Collecting maile