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bioprospecting

bioprospecting

1 8.7
Looking for and collecting plants and other living things to make new medicines or products
  • noun
  • /ˌbaɪoʊˈprɒspɛktɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : bioprospección
  • The search for new medicines often involves bioprospecting in diverse ecosystems.
  • bioprospecting contract
  • bioprospecting and biodiversity
  • sustainable bioprospecting

Examples

  • Pharmaceutical companies have contracted for bioprospecting rights in tropical forests.

    Academic text (2004)
  • To do this, indigenous peoples also must be able to share in the benefits of bioprospecting.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Thus, bioprospecting will be most competitive where an open, dynamic research environment is created.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Unless this situation changes, the idea of linking bioprospecting with economic development and conservation cannot be realized.

    Academic text (2006)
  • One way to generate this kind of intellectual and economic income is through bioprospecting.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Serious barriers remain to be overcome in order to realize economic and scientific development through bioprospecting.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Many considerations point toward the need for bioprospecting-based research on these neglected diseases.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Over the long term, discoveries derived from bioprospecting may help to establish research-based industries in Panama.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Others have suggested that the anticipated revenue from existing and future bioprospecting contracts provides sufficient incentive to conserve biodiversity.

    Academic text (1997)
  • One nation's government that has instituted policies to ensure that bioprospecting contributes to sustainable development is Costa Rica.

    Academic text (1997)

How Exploitative

theft
356 1.1
biopiracy
  • Jargon
1 9.9
misappropriation
  • Formal
5 8.6
bioprospecting
  • Specialized
1 8.7
commoning
  • Specialized
7.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

bioprospecting = prospecting (semi-transparent) = bio + prospect + ing

The word is fairly interpretable as 'bio-' plus 'prospecting', but it is a technical term with a specialized scientific and commercial sense.

Etymology

Bioprospecting comes from bio- meaning 'life' and prospect meaning 'to search', like a miner prospecting for gold. So, bioprospecting is searching in nature for useful living things to develop new medicines or products.