Personal Response

BIOL 1040: Cell to Organisms

Semester Two, 2011

Mother Ocean will Cure Cancer?!

“Molluscs provide chemicals for cancer treatment” – track 6

Name: Saki Okumura

Student ID: 42507321

Ocean as a treasure trove of drugs

What do you imagine when you hear the word, “ocean”? Swimming, surfing, scuba diving… Those images may vary from person to person. However, can anyone imagine “treasure trove of drugs” from that word? Now, this compelling notion is becoming popular among researchers who are studying pharmaceutical products. Here, I want to introduce you to the intriguing scientific area of oceans via ABC’s science show hosted by Robin Williams and with Dr. Kirsten Benkendorff who received the 2011 Dorothy Hill Award for her research on shellfish. She examined molluscs for environmental indicators and as resource for humans.

Molluscs – miracle medicine and valuable indicator –

As you know, it is quite a different environment between the inside and the outside of an ocean. So the sea creatures lives in quite different environments from where we live and they have adapted to cope. Therefore, they have unique mechanisms for biosynthesis and metabolism which the creatures living onshore don’t have. There is a field of study that examines these creatures and tries to apply their functional agents to the service of humans. It is called marine biotechnology.

Dr. Kirsten Benkendorff is one of those researchers who are interested in marine life. She did her research on molluscs as indicator organisms as well as a resource for mankind. As a resource for humans, she got an idea from homeopathic remedies of traditional medicine used all over the world. She focused attention on the anti-cancer properties of chemicals produced from their organs which protect their egg mass or work on immune systems. She used molluscs’ extract to conduct clinical trials to examine their efficacy and safety. And she worked out their secrets relating to cancer prevention. It actually works for colon cancer and the early stages of tumour formation. She could not establish a treatment model but there are still many kinds of molluscs yet to be examined. So it might be possible to find different efficacious chemicals from other types of molluscs.

As indicator organisms, she focused attention on their shell structures which are affected by acid rain so that we can better understand the changes in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Also, she paid attention to the mass death of molluscs which gave insights into pathogen-host relationships. From this, we know more about the health of the environment.

Bounties of the ocean

As a Japanese person, I found this research quite interesting because cancer is one of the most serious causes of death in my country. The number of people suffering from cancer is increasing and one in three Japanese people die due to cancer. My grandparents and my best friend’s mother also died from cancer. They also tried to recover from the disease by searching for cures, like other cancer patients. So I’m keen on this topic.

I found this research interesting not only because it represents an epoch making scientific research, but at the same time it was a rediscovery of traditional foods’ efficacy. Being Japanese, I know quite a few cooking ingredients which have been handed down as healthy foods for particular health problem. There are many folk remedies in Japan and there is also a legend that says oyster and other molluscs have a good effect on cancer prevention, which looks like being proven from this research. It suggests to us that it is a good idea to review traditional culture for medical use and possibly use it in modern ways.

Traditionally, humans have tried to find useful ingredients from terrestrial creatures. Although oceans cover 70 % of the surface of the earth, their harsh environments have restricted our ability to research. However, in recent years, deep diving technology has evolved and it allows us to collect more types of marine life from the deep ocean. The alien environment of the sea is becoming an available resource for gaining useful substances for human life.

By continuing this study, we should be more conscious that new discoveries from oceans represent an exciting new use of this underutilized ecosystem. Even though it may be for study purposes, overfishing may well destroy the ecosystem of the ocean. Oceans hold the hope of new drugs for humans but at the same time we should remember that it is a place where life began and they are fragile that they need to be treated with respect. Not only researchers but also individuals have to keep in mind this fact and make wise judgments in relation to our behaviour toward the mother ocean.

軟体動物の産生する化学物質がガン予防の薬になる可能性をABC science show が取り上げてたことに対する初めてのpersonal response. 日本ではしたことのないタイプのアサイメントだが、scientist として lay public に対する文章を書く練習。（学部１年生の授業…）書くのに時間かかるうえに内容がないようで文法間違いだらけ。でも何事も練習。