More than 70% of the earth’s surface are covered by water, mostly forming marine habitats. During evolution, extreme marine environmental conditions have enhanced the development of adaptation strategies in marine microorganisms that are different from their terrestrial counterparts. This involves new natural products that are different from known structures of terrestrial organisms. However, the exploration of new drugs, enzymes or biochemical capabilities of marine origin is difficult. Less than 1% of marine microorganisms have been cultivated so far, and only for a negligible number of known marine microorganisms genetic tools are available. Metagenomics, genome sequencing and the techniques of functional genomics make it possible to visualize potential metabolic and biochemical capabilities of even unculturable marine cells. The conference will present recent results of these new research fields and discuss the potential of molecular methods for the discovery of new natural compounds from marine microorganisms.
To this international symposium at the Alfried-Krupp-Kolleg in Greifswald, organized by the Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. in collaboration with the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University,,130 participants are expected. The Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. was established 10 years ago and is situated at the Biotechnikum of the Hanseatic City of Greifswald. The Institute of Marine Biotechnology e.V. is a member of BioCon Valley – the initiative for life science and health economy in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.

Press representatives are cordially invited to take part in the event.
The symposium program is available at:
www.marine-biotechnologie.de/conf_2006/

Contact:
Institut für Marine Biotechnologie e. V.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Schweder
Walther-Rathenau-Straße 49a
17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49(0)3834-86-4212
Fax: +49(0)3834-86-4238

BioCon Valley® GmbH
Dr. Heinrich Cuypers
Walther-Rathenau-Straße 49a
17489 Greifswald
T +49 (0) 3834-515 108
F +49 (0) 3834-515 102
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