Blue biotechnology

Blue Biotechnology Definition: Blue biotechnology is combination of aquatic and marine organisms with technology to get new sources of energy, develop new drugs, extract new active ingredients or to increase seafood production and its safety.

Some basic information : Blue biotechnology works with aquatic organisms. It explores varieties of marine eco-systems which are still unknown to us. It’s applications can deliver us with sustainable food and energy resources . Blue biotechnology can play a huge role in degrading environmental pollution and increase human health condition.

Uses of Blue Biotechnology

Aquaculture: Aquaculture, also known as aqua farming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans mollusks  and aquatic plants.  Aquaculture involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions.

Examples: Microalgae ( phytoplankton, microphytes) have many commercial and industrial uses. According to their specific uses, they are being cultivated on a large scale at present. Eg: Agar agar. 2. Transgenic salmon fish is being cultivated worldwide. It has more growth hormone thus it grows faster. (also known as AquAdvantage.)

Food : Specific aquatic organisms provide us with nutritious food. Blue biotechnology improves the quality of those foods and helps in producing them industrially.

Examples: Marine Biotechnology Products, a wholly owned subsidiary of IBL, operates the only fishmeal and oil plant in Mauritius, in a factory which was commissioned in July 2008.  Fish oil is recommended for a healthy diet because it contains the omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), precursors to eicosanoids that reduce inflammation throughout the body

Sustainable energy: Develops resources of renewable energy products and processes using marine algae, offshore wind, marine biomass, wave, tide, ocean current, osmotic gradient, thermal gradient. 

Examples: Sea weeds (Marine algae) can be turned into effective biofuels and it produces very less CO2 when burned unlike fossil fuel. 2. Marine and wave technologies use the energy in the ocean to produce electricity. Hydroelectric power is a well established technology in the UK. The flow of water is used to turn turbines to generate electricity.

Health : Develop drugs, treatments and health and personal care products for human. Some plankton and snails are rich sources of antitumor and anticancer molecules.

Examples: 1.Azidothymidine obtained from Cryptotethya sponge is a very effective retroviral medicine for AIDS. 2. Brown algae are the source of Fucodian drug that can be used to treat Leukemia type 1. 3. Discodermolide is undergoing trials which was found in Caribbean sea sponge can become a promising cancer medication in future. 4. Facial elixir consisting of all natural products, primarily phytoplankton extracts can give juvenile youthful skin.

Marine derived enzymes and biopolymers: Enzymes :  A new type of alkaline protease has been derived from marine Psychrobacte and is being comercially produced. Chitinase and chitosanase helps in removing toxin from body. Agarases is used in Biotechnology. Biopolymers:. In recent years, marine-derived biomolecules have become important in medicine and engineering. The main polymers derived include alginate, chitin, chitosan, collagen, fucoidan, etc.

Interesting transgenic marine organisms:  GloFish: It is a patented and trademarked brand of genetically modified (GM) fluorescent fish. It is available in different fluorescent colors such as "Electric Green", "Sunburst Orange", "Moonrise Pink", "Starfire Red", "Cosmic Blue", and "Galactic Purple”

Interesting transgenic marine organisms: Zebra fish: GM zebrafish is modified to detect aquatic pollution. Several transgenic methods have been used to introduce target DNA into zebrafish for environmental monitoring

Importance of Blue biotechnology: Blue biotechnology works to preserve aquatic diversity which is very important for natural stability. It provides us with high nutritious natural food supplements. 3. Seaweeds have potential to become useful and environment friendly fuel. 4. Microalgae and specific varieties of sponge has substances that can be used to prevent cancer, tumor , leukemia and AIDS. 5. 50% of fish consumed by people worldwide are result of aquaCulture.

Notable successes: AquAdvantage fish. Zebra fish to indicate pollution. Medicine for cancer and AIDS. Disease resisting fish and oysters. Fuel producing seaweeds. Aquatic enzymes.

Problems with Blue Biotechnology: Most people are concerned about the safety of GM foods. AquAdvantage fishes have high level growth hormone which concerns people. Researches are very expensive. Transgenic genes can get mixed with natural ones unnoticed. Threat for natural aquatic organisms.

THANK YOU