ABSTRACT
The world’s biological diversity is distributed largely in inverse proportion to scientific and technological capacity (Macilwain, 1998). As a result, many biologically diverse countries with developing economies and limited scientific infrastructure do not actively participate in rapid scientific and technological advances that make new and varied use of genetic resources. At the same time, companies and research institutions based in developed countries seek diversity and novelty in the genetic resources they study and use, and many look outside their borders for new leads. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promotes more equitable use and exchange of genetic resources, redrawing ethical and legal norms established over a long history of genetic resource trade and commercialization, and seeking to balance the needs of both technologically and biologically endowed countries.
