From genes to innovation: exploring the use of marine genetic resources in biotechnology

Marine genetic resources (MGRs) are crucial for understanding marine biodiversity and tracking changes in ecosystems, while also providing a valuable foundation for biotechnological innovation. The recent adoption of the UN Treaty on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Treaty) and the inclusion of digital sequence information in this legally binding agreement open new opportunities for protecting biodiversity in the high seas, including the deep sea. However, a significant knowledge gap exists in fully understanding current and potential future applications of MGRs in biotechnological innovation, creating uncertainties around the Treaty's implementation. Classifying MGR functions for specific technological uses - such as antibiotic resistance, bioremediation, and biofuels - can significantly increase our understanding of the economic value of marine ecosystems and help discover new genes and enzymes with practical applications that hold great potential for sustainable development.

Here, we analyzed the Marine Bioprospecting Patent Database (https://mabpat.shinyapps.io/main/), a global catalogue of marine genes used in innovation, that includes 104,467 nucleotide sequences from 1,639 marine species across 4,779 unique patents. We used technological codes, structured topic modeling, and a suite of knowledge diversity indices to evaluate the unique contributions of marine sequences to the biotechnology sector and other global economic areas. Our findings show that most MGRs are used in molecular biology to develop new enzymes and fluorescence methods, as well as in public health to create new therapeutic and diagnostic products. Additionally, we encounter various connections between marine bioprospecting inventions and the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the potential of MGR utilization to promote sustainable development. Our study provides policymakers with new insight into the scope and scale of innovation based on MGR, enabling science-based decision-making related to the conservation and sustainable use of marine ecosystems.