BOT 2000 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Supernatural, Secondary Forest, Species Richness
18 Apr 2016
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Pharmaceutical companies formed partnerships with botanists: to screen plants around world (south america, africa, southeast asia) Efforts have resulted in production of taxol: extract from taxus brevifolius. Pharmaceutical companies: historically have followed clues from native healers. If product useful, companies paid locals low wages. To gather plants, or develop synthetic compounds based on structure of chemicals identified in plants no significant benefit to native people: are actively experimenting with plant biofactories for pharming bioactive compounds include: insulin, sex hormones, vaccines. Hormones can be produced by plants if genes for production are transferred to the plant. Biopiracy: when companies take control of a crop native to a land and restrict its use: example: companies take crop native to part of world. Plant is bred and engineered to produce high yield. Natives of area now must purchase from that company: lawsuits can occur when: Seeds are saved from previous season, companies have engineered seeds that produce infertile offspring.
