True Psychrophiles and Part Time Psychrophiles in the Antarctic

• Main Author: Bowman, JP
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Learning in Geography, Humanities, Technology and Science 2013
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Microbiology; Microbial Ecology; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Arctic
• Online Access: http://www.lights.org.in/sagaa/index.php; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/84540

Given that Polar environments still represent a 'frontier' to many, there isan inclination to still explore these ecosystems not for the broader interests in ecological knowledge but rather for more immediate concerns. The desire toharness biological diversity as a resource is well known and a highly vigorousendeavour driven by the continuous demand for new resources and innovationsbeckon new directions and opportunities. For example it is abundantly clearwe need new or improved pharmaceuticals for dealing with infectious diseaseas well as other pervasive medical conditions, such as cancer and Alzheimersdisease. Since biodiscovery is inherently empirical, scattershot approaches areoften too hopeful and unfocused for anything substantial to be gained. However,with greater knowledge on how microbes function and their genetic contents,value can be gained and in addition gain a greater appreciation of associatedenvironmental services as well as metabolic capacities and idiosyncrasies. Thusbioprospecting for novel pharmaceutical activity, cold active enzymes, andunusual and/or new biological products should take an intelligent directedas well as in-depth approach in order to realise value and understanding.To achieve this we need knowledge about microorganisms at a functional,mechanistic and genetic level and not just taxonomic and phylogenetic.