Extremophiles as a Source of Biotechnological Products

Extremophile and extremozyme capabilities to uphold catalytic actions under extreme situations open up a varied array of biotechnological applications. Extremophiles are a rich supply of biocatalysts used for innumerable purposes. Bioactive molecules and enzymes isolated from organisms inhabiting risky environments being used in biological innovation pipelines and pharmaceutical have positive claims. The species biodiversity has favourable reservoir of the unexploited amalgams with biotechnological significance. Prospective solicitations of extremozymes, chiefly as catalysis of multistep progressions, quorum sensing, bioremediation, biofuel, biodiversity and prospecting, biomining, and genetic technology are explored. To boost the biotechnological uses of extremozymes, research and development efforts are needed to address hurdles such as extremophile culture, gene expression in host cells, and extremozyme bioprocessing. Extremophiles can be a resource for innovative biotechnological comprising industrial biotechnology, agriculture, medical, food, and environmental biotechnology.

Ice and Ivory: the cryopolitics of mammoth de-extinction

Woolly mammoth tusk hunting has become a black-market industry in the Siberian region of Yakutia, where thawing permafrost due to climate change is revealing the bodies of thousands of mammoths. They are often in a state of incredible preservation, and their accompanying tusks can be sold to China where they are carved into ornaments as a marker of status. Alongside tusk hunting, another potential industry has emerged: de-extinction. Many of the mammoths found on the tundra have potentially viable DNA that might be used to resurrect a mammoth through genetic technology. Mammoth de-extinction is a cryopolitical process – a focus on the preservation and production of life at a genetic level through cold storage. 'Cryobanks' have emerged as a way to safeguard endangered and extinct species' genetic material, and forms part of a turn towards pre-empting conservation crises during what some scholars are calling the 'sixth great extinction.' The mammoth's body is broken down into pieces – tusks form luxury commodity chains, whilst flesh and blood is parceled into frozen genes and cells. The mammoth in the freezer is indicative of a reorganization of cold life in a warming world, with the specific cryopolitics found in the cryobank an attempt at extending human control over planetary processes that are now seemingly out of control. Drawing on fieldwork undertaken at the Mammoth Museum in Yakutsk, Siberia, and at the Natural History Museum's cryobank in London, I follow the mammoth from permafrost, to freezer, to back outside, and consider how her de-extinction is a response to a particular sort of future crisis –that of our own extinction.

Evaluation and Discussion of Genetics Content in Museums

BackgroundGenetics literacy is crucial for making informed personal decisions. With rapid advances in genetic technology, a foundational understanding of genetics is now more important than ever for meaningful engagement with questions surrounding health, privacy, and policy. However, genetic content engagement barriers, including geographic unavailability, lack of prior education, and misleading media narratives, can make it difficult to reach diverse populations. Furthermore, with growing mistrust in science and genetic information, interventions to improve genetics literacy, particularly to those beyond a K – 12 classroom, require an approach centered on building science trust and self-efficacy. ResultsFor the meta-analysis, we found genetics content in 88 of the 691 museums queried, typically in science (n=37) and natural history (n=25) exhibits. While genetics content was present in 42 states, there were large portions of the country that were more than 150 miles away from any museum featuring genetics. We found a high concentration of genetics content in sponsored exhibits and a low concentration of content within children’s museums, reinforcing narratives of genetic technology as product and genetics as difficult, respectively. In framing devices, museums fell into one of three categories. Museums with the meta-narrative “Genetics is Fun” focused on interactivity and volunteer facilitation, and emphasized specific inherited traits and genetics tools and technology. Museums highlighting the meta-narrative “Genetics is Relevant” highlighted DNA basics and health testing. Finally, museums with the meta-narrative “Genetics is Discovery” featured heavy use of fishbowl-style genetics labs, highly visible museum collections, and an emphasis on visitor participation in science research. ConclusionWhile each of these meta-narratives leads to high engagement with genetics topics, they also all lead to construction of different personal identities around these topics. For example, watching a diverse set of scientists work in a fishbowl lab broadens definitions of who can be a scientist, but active participation in a genetics experiment through volunteer facilitation builds science self-efficacy. Furthermore, narratives focusing on technological breakthroughs alone may inadvertently send a message that genetics is complex and impersonal. Exhibit creators should consider the design ramifications of each of these choices when creating an impactful genetics exhibit.

Development and application of reverse genetic technology for the influenza virus

Influenza virus is a common virus in people's daily lives, and it has certain infectivity in humans and animals. Influenza viruses have the characteristics of a high mutation rate and wide distribution. Reverse genetic technology is primarily used to modify viruses at the DNA level through targeted modification of the virus cDNA. Genetically modified influenza viruses have a unique advantage when researching the transmission and pathogenicity of influenza. With the continuous development of oncolytic viruses in recent years, studies have found that influenza viruses also have certain oncolytic activity. Influenza viruses can specifically recognize tumor cells; activate cytotoxic T cells, NK cells, dendritic cells, etc.; and stimulate the body to produce an immune response, thereby killing tumor cells. This article will review the development and application of influenza virus reverse genetic technology.

Protection and Utilization of Indonesia Genetic Resources: Disentangle of Regime Complex

This paper investigates the effective regulation of genetic resources (GR) in Indonesia. Using comparative study between related legal framework, this study explores which approach will be benefit mostly for the GR itself, since there is overlapping guidelines in term of GR. There are three legal systems, i.e., International Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Environmental Law that related to GR in Indonesia, but none of them directly and precisely regulate the protection and utilizing of the GR. The study results indicate that the most effective way to protect and utilizing GR continuously is to arrange the sui generis system that take into account its biology, genetic, technology, culture, and legal aspects at the same time. Keywords: Genetic Resources, Sui Generis System, Intellectual Property.

The impact of the use of genetic technology on the rights of future generations

В исследовании определена значимость этических и правовых норм для регулирования применения генетических технологий. Эта задача является важной для современного общества, но не менее актуальной она представляется для определения рисков применения генетических технологий на права будущих поколений. Материалом стали научные статьи и электронные ресурсы. Методами исследования выбраны формально-логический, системный, структурно-функциональный и формально-догматический. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют о том, что тема заботы о будущих поколениях не должна игнорироваться при использовании генетических технологий. Правовые инструменты смогут определить пределы использования генетических технологий с учетом интересов будущих поколений. The study determines the significance of ethical and legal norms for regulating the use of genetic technologies. This task is important for modern society, but it is no less relevant for determining the risks of applying genetic technologies to the rights of future generations. The material was scientific articles and electronic resources. The research methods are formal-logical, system, structural-functional and formal-dogmatic. The results show that the topic of caring for future generations should not be ignored when using genetic technologies. Legal instruments will be able to determine the limits of the use of genetic technologies, taking into account the interests of future generations.