This is very exciting and encouraging.Weng’s lab has shown that if researchers figure out the genes behind a desirable natural molecule—in this case, kavalactones—they can clone those genes, insert them into species like yeast or bacteria that grow quickly and are easier to maintain in a variety of environments than a temperamental tropical plant, and then get these microbial bio-factories to mass produce the molecule.
This sure came out of nowhere...could bring some mixed feelings among indigenous communities.
Definitely.mixed feelings
THC as well. It's becoming quite a thing.They did this recently with morphine I believe. It's definitely fascinating. I don't think it could recreate the kava experience with its entourage of lactones but it could be helpful for creating pharmaceutical products and extracts without wasting precious root.
Yes, this is a big issue with the single molecule medicine approach of modern medicine. These plants have many compounds that interact with the actives to create a broad array of effects and by isolating them we lose that. The possibility of new side effects, decreased safety and lessened therapeutic effects aren't what we need. Those are features of the products that pharmaceutical companies already provide and the reason so many people are turning back to nature for solutions.They did this recently with morphine I believe. It's definitely fascinating. I don't think it could recreate the kava experience with its entourage of lactones but it could be helpful for creating pharmaceutical products and extracts without wasting precious root.
This is an important point. It is not as if European or American scientists just stumbled upon an uninhabited island where this miracle plant, kava, was growing like a gift from nature. Kava was literally created by Pacific people over hundreds or thousands of years of slow 'bioengineering', and any company that would exploit it for profit absolutely owes them something. Something concrete, not just platitudes.Now they need to genetically engineer this yeast further so that it can survive in my stomach. I wouldn't mind a symbiotic relationship with some kavalactone-excreting yeast.
Seriously though, while the word biopiracy has been unfortunately misapplied by certain actors in this industry before, the commercialisation of this new scientific method to produce kavalactones would actually fit the definition. http://theconversation.com/biopiracy-when-indigenous-knowledge-is-patented-for-profit-55589
The Nagoya Protocol is supposed to take care of this, but the US isn't a signatory to it because it's very difficult to get 2/3 of the US Senate to agree on anything.This is an important point. It is not as if European or American scientists just stumbled upon an uninhabited island where this miracle plant, kava, was growing like a gift from nature. Kava was literally created by Pacific people over hundreds or thousands of years of slow 'bioengineering', and any company that would exploit it for profit absolutely owes them something. Something concrete, not just platitudes.
This goes to a rather deep subject only worth discussing in theory, but what if the indigenous culture gave up their use of the plant of their ancestors by their own volition.This is an important point. It is not as if European or American scientists just stumbled upon an uninhabited island where this miracle plant, kava, was growing like a gift from nature. Kava was literally created by Pacific people over hundreds or thousands of years of slow 'bioengineering', and any company that would exploit it for profit absolutely owes them something. Something concrete, not just platitudes.
Yes, IMO the debt is real, but especially in a place like Hawaii, there is not going to be a simple answer or formula. But something like the Nagoya protocol mentioned by @kasa_balavu does seem like a good starting point.This goes to a rather deep subject only worth discussing in theory, but what if the indigenous culture gave up their use of the plant of their ancestors by their own volition.
Basically forgetting about it or at least redefining its' use and placing on a far back shelf. Much later a lot of non-indigenous people get together with a very few decendants of native islanders and restore that tradition to some degree literally (in many cases) out of nothing. Whom is "owed"? This is the case for Hawai'i. If we say it has to be bloodline then what does that mean? Personally, I tend to think bloodline-- we owe the indigenous Hawaiians for what their ancestors did to select these cultivars of 'awa.
Or Not? Maybe everyone owes the Melanesian folk for actually taking wichmannii and making methysticum?
What I decided, 34 years ago, was to give back ('awa plants I propagate) and nodes and the knowledge to propagate and grow them, etc.Yes, IMO the debt is real, but especially in a place like Hawaii, there is not going to be a simple answer or formula. But something like the Nagoya protocol mentioned by @kasa_balavu does seem like a good starting point.