Chill wind over Antarctic biodiversity

Researchers are calling for a strengthening of the Antarctic Treaty in the face of expected growth in the search for organisms on the continent that may provide lucrative material for biotechnology companies. The call comes because of the background of scientific collaboration that has been in place for more than 40 years which has helped maintain an almost unique international collaboration to preserve the continent and the species that inhabit it. But the environment of the polar continent makes it especially appealing for biotech companies. Organisms that thrive in the frozen soils and surrounding waters do so because they have developed unique biological coping strategies. If researchers can unravel the secrets of life in a cold climate, the financial rewards could be huge for businesses involving chilling and freezing technologies. Bioprospectors are starting to turn their attention to many of the last frontiers, such as hydrothermal vents, the deep seabed, the water column of the high seas and polar ice caps, raising concerns about the unique environment and status of Antarctica. Scientists have already discovered fish that survive Antarctic waters by producing their own ‘anti-freeze’. The molecule responsible has been patented and could be used commercially to protect frozen food, or keep ice cream soft in freezers. Other organisms, amongst the ‘extremophiles’ which flourish in harsh environments, are believed to have unique enzymes that could revolutionise industrial processes. There is also hope such novel organisms may lead to the discovery of othr chemicals such as antibiotics. According to researchers at the United Nations University in Tokyo, interest from the biotech companies in Antarctica’s biological riches is growing. Already, some 92 patents referring to Antarctic organisms or molecules extracted from them have been filed in the US and a further 62 patents have been filed in Europe. News focus