Marine biodiversity at risk

By: EFE

Climate change and overfishing may lead to the disappearance of marine life.

Photo: EFE

Australian experts have warned that ocean ecosystems are in grave danger, because they are very close to suffering a mass extinction of marine species.

According to the report published in the journal Science, climate change, overfishing and other human actions can cause the complete disappearance of marine life. The study, conducted by specialists from Macquarie University in Sydney, he concludes that what is to happen to the marine fauna is the result of human behavior and the effects of climate change.

The research was based on data obtained from a review of 100 000 collections around the world, composed of marine fossils that lived about 500 million years.

For its part, the study 'The exploration of marine biodiversity', prepared by the BBVA Foundation, states that "it would take 250 to 1,000 years to complete the inventory of marine species, with the risk that by then many of them will have been lost forever. "

The oceans, covering an area of 361 million square kilometers and an average depth of 3,730 feet, covers 71% of the planet's surface
According to research, coordinated by Professor of the Higher Council for Scientific Research? CSIC - Carlos Duarte and that has involved 12 leading international researchers, each year 635 thousand describes new marine species and, at present, there are the order of 230000-250000 described species of marine organisms, which indicates that marine biodiversity represents 15% of global biodiversity described (about 1.6 million species).

The General Assembly of the United Nations declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity in order to attract international attention to the problem of the continued loss of biodiversity.

The destruction of natural habitats, fragmentation of forests and water pollution, coupled with the effects of climate change are among the main causes of the rapid pace of global biodiversity loss.
During this year, is intended to highlight the importance of biodiversity to human life, reflect on our achievements in the conservation of biodiversity and encourage us to redouble our efforts to reduce significantly the rate of biodiversity loss.

For Juan Manuel Diaz, scientific director of the MarViva, the main threats to marine biodiversity are overharvesting of living marine resources (both by overfishing and by the collateral damage that violate the nets sweep the seabed ), water pollution and acidification of the sea because of climate change.

As we celebrate the National Day of Biodiversity, an appeal to the Colombian is aware that the oceans are not inexhaustible source of resources that they used to proclaim our parents and teachers at school and act responsibly, while consuming only products that are in danger of extinction, obtained through responsible practices and require our leaders to adopt measures to monitor and control illegal fishing and to mitigate and prevent water pollution.

In Colombia, efforts to conserve the oceans and marine ecosystems has few allies, among which include the Malpelo Foundation, the Invemar, Agenda del Mar, Conservation International, WWF and MarViva.

In Colombia, MarViva promotes conservation and sustainable use of resources, goods and services marine coastal processes through support for inter-agency management, mangrove management plans and monitoring fishing in the northern Chocó Pacific.

This is the opportunity to think about the objectives proposed by the United Nations, in favor of biodiversity:

Improve public awareness of the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and the threats to biodiversity, increase awareness of the achievements to save biodiversity, encouraging people, organizations and governments to take immediate measures necessary to halt the loss of biodiversity, promote innovative solutions to reduce threats to biodiversity and to initiate dialogue among stakeholders on measures to be taken in the period after 2010.

Thanks to ElEspectador

New gel could speed up wound healing

British scientists are to begin the final phase of testing a drug that heals leg ulcers up to five times faster than normal.

British scientists are to begin the final phase of testing of a new gel that they say, heals leg ulcers up to five times faster than normal.

For three years, Connie McPherson suffered a debilitating leg ulcers that were so painful that sometimes I could not sleep. Despite several surgeries, antibiotics, steroids and other treatments, nothing helped.

Then, last year participated in a test of the new gel for the treatment of chronic wounds.

"It was the answer to my prayers," said McPherson, 58, a real estate agent in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a few weeks, McPherson said that ulcers healed completely. "I had tried everything known and it was all worked."

The gel that is used to meet McPherson was developed by a team led by David Becker, professor of cell and developmental biology at University College London. The gel, called Nexagon, works by disrupting the way cells communicate and avoids the production of a protein that blocks healing. This allows the cells to move more quickly to the wound to begin healing.

Although it has only been tested so far about 100 people, experts say that if successful, the gel may play a role in the treatment of chronic wounds such as leg ulcers or diabetes, even for common or scratches injuries from accidents.

In most chronic wounds, Becker said there was an abnormal amount of certain protein linked to inflammation.

To reduce their numbers, Becker and his colleagues produced the Nexagon from bits of DNA that can block production of the protein. "As the protein is inactivated, the cells move to close the wound," said Becker. The gel is slightly yellow and has the consistency of toothpaste.

In an initial study on leg ulcers, scientists Becker co-founded the company to develop the gel found that after four weeks, the number of people with completely healed ulcers was five times higher in patients who received the gel compared with those who applied it.

The leg ulcer lasts on average six months to heal and 60% of patients return to suffer the problem of ulcers.

Other experts said the gel looks promising. "It seems that the gel has a positive effect on making the outer layer (skin) to restore itself," said Phil Stephens, head of engineering and tissue repair at the University of Cardiff. Stephens is not related to the investigation of Becker.

However, Stephens said it's crucial that the gel does not interfere too much with the inflammation process. "There needs to get there, inflammatory cells and clean the wound," he said.

Brad Duft, President of Coda Therapeutics, which develops the product, said he still must spend a couple of years before the new gel to reach the market and when that happens the price will drop significantly. Some patients with leg ulcers spend about $ 30,000 a year or more treatments. Duft said the new gel cost a fraction of that.

Thanks to PrensaLatinaVG