The article summarises the results of the Bio4EU study regarding contributions of modern biotechnology applications in health to EU policy objectives. It outlines emerging applications and challenges facing modern biotechnology applications in health.; JRC.J.5-Agriculture and Life Sciences in the Economy

Current microbiology/biochemistry textbooks are encyclopedic tomes which include little information about the scientists in academia and non-profit research institutes who erected the extensive framework of our current knowledge. This essay discusses the dubious notion that a new major kind of “scientific life” is emerging in biotechnology…a blend of unfettered academic (“basic”) research and industrial (“applied”) research. Examples are given of outstanding academic scientists whose creativity in seeking new basic knowledge of cell (and virus) growth, biochemistry, and genetics led to the major tools of the applied biotechnology industry.

Este material se utiliz?? en una sesi??n monogr??fica sobre "Debate p??blico en torno a las biotecnolog??as", dentro del Curso: A2. "Biotecnolog??a y Sociedad: claves para el futuro", del Centro Mediterr??neo / Universidad de Granada (Almu????car, 9???13 julio de 2007).; A partir de los eurobar??metros y otros instrumentos de sondeo se detallan los aspectos que configuran el desarrollo de la percepci??n p??blica de las biotecnolog??as en el per??odo 1991-2007. El an??lisis se centra en dos contextos de debate: el originado en torno a las biotecnolog??as agroalimentarias (alimentos transg??nicos, fundamentalmente) y el m??s reciente sobre diversas aplicaciones de la farmacogen??mica. Desde una perspectiva cr??tica se analiza el nuevo dominio de problemas y sus desaf??os para la comunicaci??n social de la ciencia.; Eurobarometers and other survey instruments are used to characterize basic aspects in the development of the public perception of biotechnology between 1991 and 2007. The analysis focuses on two contexts of debate: agrifood biotechnology (transgenic food, mainly) and the most recent on various applications of pharmacogenomics. A new domain of problems and its challenges for social communication of science are analyzed from a critical perspective.

La energía se agota y los biocarburantes son, o han sido hasta ahora, una de las formas de energía alternativa exitosas para combatir el cambio climático. Al mismo tiempo, la investigación biotecnológica que creaba y avalaba esta nueva forma de producción energética ha sido ampliamente apoyada y desarrollada por instituciones y empresas dada su versatilidad y utilidad en otros campos como el de la salud y la lucha contra la contaminación o la protección del medio ambiente, entre otros aspectos beneficiosos para la sociedad. Sin embargo, en el caso de la biotecnología, ésta presenta serios rasgos de incertidumbre científica en relación con la energía y la seguridad alimentaria, pero también con la agricultura. Dadas estas cuestiones problemáticas, se sugiere cuestionar la formulación actual de las políticas en las que se articulan todas estas actividades; en esa tarea de eventual reformulación están implicados el desarrollo de distintos cursos de acción (alternativas, propuestas, opciones) aceptables y pertinentes para enfrentarse a los problemas públicos, pues las políticas deben concebirse como soluciones a los problemas públicos.; L’energia s’exhaureix i els biocarburants són, o han estat fins ara, una de les formes d’energia alternativa exitoses per combatre el canvi climàtic. Al mateix temps...

Os fundamentalismos surgiram no Ocidente a partir de questões religiosas e posteriormente difundiram-se para outras partes do mundo tomando outras conotações, principalmente políticas. As técnicas de manipulação genética difundiram-se pelas universidades, que formam mestres e doutores com os conhecimentos básicos sobre clonagem gênica, que se tornou de domínio público. Todos os insumos para clonagem gênica podem ser adquiridos por meio de catálogos via internet. Podem-se recrutar profissionais fanáticos e com a competência para a manipulação genética de organismos patogênicos, lado perverso da biotecnologia. Os conflitos étnicos, culturais e religiosos estão associados a um cenário de contrastes entre os países ricos e carentes de matéria-prima e aqueles pobres, mas detentores de insumos básicos e energia, e atingem a sua forma mais aguda nos fundamentalismos. Grupos de fanáticos têm pleno acesso a essa biotecnologia. Estariam assim as populações civis vulneráveis aos ataques do bioterrorismo com armas biológicas geneticamente modificadas? ____________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMEN; Los fundamentalismos surgieron en el occidente basado en cuestiones religiosas y posteriormente se difundió para otras partes del mundo...

ABSTRACTSome ichthyotoxic plants are study object aiming to discover promising substances in the field of Biotechnology, in search of plant extracts which can be used or even transformed into natural insecticides. This paper presents a bibliographical survey in order to check the traditional use of ichthyotoxic plants as bioinsecticide. Among the plants identified as ichthyotoxic, the most cited in traditional use are those from the genera Derris, Serjania, Lonchocarpus, Magonia, and Tephrosia. The survey suggests that ichthyotoxic plant extracts can contain classes of chemical compounds such as isoflavonoids and tannins with a bioinsecticidal effect and, thus, they can be used in Biotechnology, contributing to reduce the use of synthetic insecticides that present a high toxicity level.

Au cours de la dernière décennie, la pharmacogénomique est devenue le mantra révolutionnaire de nombreux chercheurs et de certains porte-paroles de l'industrie. L'intérêt que porteront les compagnies bio-pharmaceutiques du secteur privé à la recherche et au développement de nouveaux médicaments pharmacogénomiques sera déterminé par la facilité à obtenir du financement et les perspectives de retombées économiques. Dans cette perspective, le droit de la propriété intellectuelle (plus spécifiquement le droit des brevets) a toujours été l'instrument de prédilection pour motiver la recherche et le développement des produits pharmaceutiques. Cependant, l'extension de ce droit au domaine de la pharmacogénomique est controversé. Cette étude évalue l'applicabilité du système international des brevets au domaine de la pharmacogénomique. Suite à une analyse comparative du droit et des principaux textes normatifs, applicables aux brevets pharmaceutiques et biotechnologiques, ainsi qu'à une revue de la doctrine, l'étude soutient que le système de brevets reste une solution viable pour encourager la recherche et le développement dans le domaine de la pharmacogénomique. Cependant, certains ajustements sont nécessaires pour empêcher que des brevets trop larges...

Depuis quelques années, le recours à la biotechnologie dans le secteur de l'alimentation est omniprésent. Les techniques, évoluant au gré de l'avancement de la science, permettent aux gens faisant partie de plusieurs sphères de la société, tels les scientifiques, producteurs, agriculteurs, consommateurs etc., de profiter de ces percées technologiques. Toutefois, afin d'encadrer la commercialisation de ces nouveaux produits alimentaires découlant de cette technologie, un cadre réglementaire devait, il va sans dire, être élaboré. Ce fut le cas de part et d'autre de l'Atlantique. Toutefois, bien qu'appréciée des scientifiques, cette technologie est loin de faire l'assentiment de tous. D'ailleurs, différentes perceptions se reflètent dans les différents cadres réglementaires mis de l'avant, tout aussi bien canadien que français, quant à l'utilisation et la mise en vente des nouveaux aliments. Ce travail décrit les systèmes réglementaires visant la commercialisation des aliments nouveaux tant canadien que français. Par ailleurs, il relate les différents débats, sociologique, éthique, et techniques, dont ces organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) sont la cible.; Since the past decades, the use of biotechnology in the industry of novel food was very considerable. This new technique is very useful...

The soybean Glycine max. (L.) Merrill is a very important item for Paraguay, which ranks the country among the world's sixth largest producer. It is a crop with higher production area in Paraguay, for its great economic return for producers. In the past three years the average increase in surface area was about 6% environment, while the average increase in productivity was 13%, which implies that the incorporation of edge germplasm and crop management through technological tools available in the market, have proven positive effect on soybean production at national and regional levels. Other major factors which have been found a significant improvement in the national productive sector is the implementation of private agreements for recognition by the use of biotech events, the same could not be positive effect on the use of germplasm although means for accessing main events are to biotechnology therethrough. This work will seek to assess all situations regarding capture systems either by the use of biotechnology, or the use of germplasm, as well as discuss the benefits of the agreement in Paraguay and the results of the application of those funds. The AMBA signed in Paraguay is highly successful in the soy production chain; with the soybean seed system by charging the beneficiary of the technology fee...

O rápido processo de difusão da biotecnologia agrícola ocorre simultaneamente à necessidade de implementar um aparato regulatório, que implica em custos ao longo da cadeia agroalimentar. No caso da agricultura de grãos, isto tem ocasionado custos elevados associados à regulação. A emergência de um mercado consumidor mais exigente quanto à preservação da identidade de uma categoria de grãos e o crescimento das exportações de commodities agrícolas brasileiras aponta para a geração de impactos positivos, na forma de melhor remuneração para os produtos agrícolas de qualidade diferenciada. Todavia, tal tendência entra em choque com a estratégia brasileira dos últimos anos de exportar commodities, processo que expõe uma série de fragilidades logísticas do País. O objetivo da presente tese é analisar o efeito da segregação dos grãos diferenciados na logística de transporte e armazenagem do Brasil, especialmente os grãos geneticamente modificados (GMs), a partir das diretrizes do Protocolo de Cartagena de Biossegurança (PCB), bem como os desdobramentos na competitividade no mercado internacional. Com isto, antecipam-se os impactos sobre as exportações de grãos em um cenário em que segregação e identificação de cargas por seus atributos - por exemplo...

A aplicação comercial da tecnologia de transgenia agrícola a partir do final do século XX e a disseminação de seu uso no início do século XXI implicam não somente a rápida e radical transformação do setor agrícola mundial, agora tecnologizado em todas as esferas do processo produtivo, mas sobretudo transformações radicais no significado da sementes e da vida, com impactos econômicos, sociais e ambientais ainda em aberto. A utilização da tecnologia de transgenia no mundo é entendida como um vetor estratégico de dominação, promoção de conflitos políticos e sociais, bem como de ruptura de referenciais de várias ordens na sociedade moderna. A tese analisa os processos de inserção comercial de sementes transgênicas nas sociedades brasileira e argentina a partir de 1990 (principalmente a partir dos Governos Fernando Henrique Cardoso e Carlos Menem). Como elementos fundamentais dessa análise, faz-se referência à construção da transgenia agrícola como um problema de ordem socioambiental no Brasil através da discussão sobre os seguintes elementos: a articulação da sociedade civil organizada brasileira e as consequências de sua mobilização, a construção da política nacional de biossegurança e a estrutura de pesquisa em biotecnologia no país. No caso Argentino...

Mestrado em Economia e Gestão de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação; As abordagens tradicionais sobre internacionalização de empresas caracterizam este processo como sendo incremental e gradual. Porém, nas últimas décadas, ocorreram várias mudanças ao nível das condições económicas, tecnológicas e sociais que terão levado ao aparecimento de um grupo de empresas que não se enquadra na visão anterior, actuando internacionalmente pouco tempo após a sua criação: as chamadas empresas born globals. Este trabalho tem como objecto de estudo empresas portuguesas de biotecnologia e pretende identificar, através de estudos de caso, que factores levam a uma internacionalização mais rápida ou mais lenta por parte destas. Através da informação recolhida constatou-se que, embora a biotecnologia seja um negócio internacional, a internacionalização é demorada devido aos longos períodos necessários para o desenvolvimento dos produtos. Assim sendo, empresas baseadas na prestação de serviços serão mais rápidas a internacionalizar-se. Também as redes de negócios parecem ter relevância no acelerar da internacionalização.; Traditional approaches to firm's internationalisation consider this an incremental and gradual process. However in the last decades several changes in economic...

The objective of this study is to reflect on the institutionalization of biotechnology in Brazil, relating it to the historical and institutional context marked by the national science and technology policy implemented since the 1970s. We focus on the configuration of biotechnology at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) to exemplify developing countries' difficulty in disseminating an innovation model based on networks originally established in developed countries. The research shows that the lag between scientific capability and technological development at FIOCRUZ resulted from the institutional dynamic related to its process of reconstruction beginning in 1975, governed by both S&T policy and health policy for the production of immunobiological products in the country during that period.

This dissertation examines the validity of what Prof. Noam Chomsky has referred to as the central role of the dynamic, entrepreneurial state sector in economic development. Through an examination of the role that government at three levels-local, state, and federal-has played in the locational decisions of firms in Cambridge's biotechnology industry, the impact of the state sector in the evolution of a critically important knowledge-intensive industry is explored. Interviews, surveys, and geographical analysis were conducted to evaluate the author's hypothesis. The answer demonstrated by the evidence presented herein is that the success of the Cambridge biotechnology cluster is indeed the outcome of a distinct set of local, state and federal government policy choices.; by Michael Sankofa Sable ...; Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning, 2007.; "September 2007."; Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-229).

In April 1989, the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center (HAM-TMC) Library initiated a prototype liaison program with the Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), Center for Biotechnology (CBT). The library was interested in examining the benefits and costs of the outreach concept and in supporting Houston's efforts to develop into a center for biotechnology research. Located thirty-five miles from the HAM-TMC Library, CBT was receptive to an outreach project that would improve its access to the library's collection and services. This article describes the objectives and development of the pilot project, the services provided, feedback from the biotechnologists, and program costs. Although limited in scope, the project has provided the HAM-TMC Library with useful data about the information needs of a particular group of biotechnologists and strengthened relationships with these scientists. In addition, the knowledge and experience gained from this effort are being used to plan outreach efforts for other client groups.

Summary: A patent is a legal device that grants an inventor market exclusivity over a new invention or medication. Market exclusivity can mean tremendous economic rewards for the patent holder because it provides the inventor with a monopoly over the invention for the 20-year patent term. Obtaining a patent and retaining market exclusivity can be a treacherous process, especially in the arena of biotechnology patents. Scientific, legal, and practical considerations must be carefully weighed to best protect an inventor's rights. This article explores some common patenting pitfalls as well as emerging issues that are specific to the area of biotechnology patenting.

This paper presents information about the organizational structure of Embrapa's banks and collections of plant germplasm and lists the 14 projects that comprise the Plant Genetic Resources Network which houses about 200 000 access and correspond to a collection of 300 genera, 787 species (90 % exotic). The main goal of the Plant Genetic Resources Network is being a source of variability for breeders of nationally and internationally research institutions. The paper also presents the different ways of knowing and accessing the collection of plant genetic resources maintained at Embrapa. Special emphasis is given to the way of the researchers can import and export plant germplasm, including presentation of a series of accessions exchanged in the last 35 years by Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology. The paper also provides the necessary documents and specifies the step-by-step to exchange and quarantine of germplasm held by Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology.

TeraFold is a biotechnology startup aiming to revolutionize the designand engineering of protein scaffolds for therapeutic applications. Scaffolds are expected tosupercede antibodies in multiple areas. The founding team combines expertise inbiochemistry protein engineering computational biophysics molecular designpharmacokinetics modeling machine learning software engineering and high-performance scientific computing; TeraFold is a biotechnology startup aiming to revolutionize the designand engineering of protein scaffolds for therapeutic applications. Scaffolds are expected tosupercede antibodies in multiple areas. The founding team combines expertise inbiochemistry protein engineering computational biophysics molecular designpharmacokinetics modeling machine learning software engineering and high-performance scientific computing; Corporación de Fomento de la Producción

Despite current findings that consumers, on average, have negative attitudes to biotechnologies such as cloning and genetic engineering, considerable variability can be found in the direction and strength of these attitudes. This paper presents a path ana

Lactobacilli are a diverse group of species that occupy diverse nutrient-rich niches associated with humans, animals, plants and food. They are used widely in biotechnology and food preservation, and are being explored as therapeutics. Exploiting lactobacilli has been complicated by metabolic diversity, unclear species identity and uncertain relationships between them and other commercially important lactic acid bacteria. The capacity for biotransformations catalysed by lactobacilli is an untapped biotechnology resource. Here we report the genome sequences of 213 Lactobacillus strains and associated genera, and their encoded genetic catalogue for modifying carbohydrates and proteins. In addition, we describe broad and diverse presence of novel CRISPR-Cas immune systems in lactobacilli that may be exploited for genome editing. We rationalize the phylogenomic distribution of host interaction factors and bacteriocins that affect their natural and industrial environments, and mechanisms to withstand stress during technological processes. We present a robust phylogenomic framework of existing species and for classifying new species.