Soft corals 'melt due to global warming'
It's too late. We have now actually missed the boat in finding some key pharmaceuticals. There is a huge gap in our knowledge of soft corals in the reef environment, and with the rate of extinction, we have lost certain species forever.-- says Hudi Benayahu of Tel Aviv University.
posted by Caspar Henderson at
8:32 am
2 Comments:
What pharmaceuticals have been developed from coral reefs that are now being used? As a pre-med student I am definitely curious!
The Wild Type
http://outdoorsblogger.com/thewildtype
A good question, but it's not one I have researched.
One often hears something along the lines that "biologically active compounds produced by reef dwelling organisms possess antimicrobial and antiviral activities", or that "anti-cancer drugs and painkillers have been developed from coral reef products" but I don't have a list of specific examples to hand.
Could Prof Benayahu and/or others could kindly enlighten us both?
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