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Molecular biodiversity. Case study: Porifera (sponges)

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Abstract

Biological diversity—or biodiversity—is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend. The research on molecular biodiversity tries to lay the scientific foundation of a rational conservation policy that has its roots in various disciplines including systematics/taxonomy (species richness), present day ecology (diversity of ecological systems), and functional genetics (genetic diversity). The results of ongoing genome analyses (genome projects and expressed sequence tag projects) and the achievements of molecular evolution may allow us not only to quantitate the diversity of the present biota but also to extrapolate to their diversification in the future. A link between biodiversity and genomics/molecular evolution will create a platform which we hope may facilitate a sustainable management of organismic life and ensure its exploitation for human benefit. In the present review we outline possible strategies, using the Porifera (sponges) as a prominent example. On the basis of solid taxonomy and ecological data, the high value of this phylum for human application becomes obvious, especially with regard to the field of chemical ecology and the desire to find novel potential drugs for clinical use. In addition, the benefit of trying to make sense of molecular biodiversity using sponges as an example can be seen in the fact that the study of these animals, which are "living fossils", gives us a good insight into the history of our planet, especially with respect to the evolution of Metazoa.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by the Center of Environmental Research (University of Mainz), the International Human Frontier Science Program (RG-333/96-M) and the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (project: Center of Excellence Biotecmarin).

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  1. Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universität, Duesbergweg 6, 55099, Mainz, Germany

    Werner E. G. Müller, Isabel M. Müller & Heinz C. Schröder

  2. Biologisches Institut, Abteilung Zoologie, Pfaffenwaldring 57, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany

    Franz Brümmer

  3. Ruder Boskovic Institute, 52210, Rovinj, Croatia

    Renato Batel

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  1. Werner E. G. Müller
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Correspondence to Werner E. G. Müller.

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Dedicated to the founder of modern marine chemical ecology, Prof. Paul J. Scheuer (University of Hawai'i).

W.E.G. Müller is a member of the Croatian Academy of Science and Art.

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Müller, W.E.G., Brümmer, F., Batel, R. et al. Molecular biodiversity. Case study: Porifera (sponges). Naturwissenschaften 90, 103–120 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-003-0407-6

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