'Treasure Trove' In Oceans May Bring Revolutions In Medicine and Industry

dryriver sends this excerpt from the Guardian: "Scientists have pinpointed a new treasure trove in our oceans: micro-organisms that contain millions of previously unknown genes and thousands of new families of proteins. These tiny marine wonders offer a chance to exploit a vast pool of material that could be used to create innovative medicines, industrial solvents, chemical treatments and other processes, scientists say. Researchers have already created new enzymes for treating sewage and chemicals for making soaps from material they have found in ocean organisms. 'The potential for marine biotechnology is almost infinite,' says Curtis Suttle, professor of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences at the University of British Columbia. 'It has become clear that most of the biological and genetic diversity on Earth is – by far – tied up in marine ecosystems, and in particular in their microbial components. By weight, more than 95% of all living organisms found in the oceans are microbial. This is an incredible resource.'"

Almost infinite?

[jomegat]

What does "almost infinite" even mean?

Not allowed!

[cvtan]

Too bad PETA will not allow us to exploit bacteria in this cruel manner. You have to ask their permission first. Individually.

Re:Almost infinite?

[lessthan]

Almost infinite means nearly limitless. Does that help?

Re:Industry?

[Anonymous Coward]

Leaving aside that you are regurgitating stupidity right now, there is a certain fraction of humanoid life on this planet motivated by social responsibility. We call these organisms "humans".

Re:Almost infinite?

[Arancaytar]

pacemaker clusters

Who needs more than one pacemaker? I mean, unless you're from Gallifrey or something.

(...Yes, yes, I was just making a funny.)

Re:Almost infinite?

[Livius]

Of course, what they're trying to say is "this resource is so big we can't imagine ever using it up." Which, of course, says little about their imagination.

Actually, it says everything about their imagination. Or rather, lack thereof.

Re:Great!

[Genda]

Its krill or be krilled

Re:Death

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Hell, after the big asteroid hit, the earth was blasted, smothered, roasted, frozen, and left in the dark for month or years.

Asteroid? Asteroid? You Late Cretaceous sissies, you young whippersnappers, if you had any idea what happened to us in the Permian, you'd shut up and look away in embarrassment. You have no idea what killed us. Heck, we don't even have an idea what killed us!

Sincerely yours, Gorgonops from south-western Pangaea.