ABSTRACT
Access to novel biochemicals has become a valuable input in many research and development (R&D) processes. Individual genes, peptides, proteins, and other biochemical compounds have become an important source of innovation not only in the pharmaceutical industry but also in the development of agrochemicals, industrial feedstocks, cosmetics, fragrances, and flavors (Oldfield 1984; Klocke 1989; Myers 1992; Broad 1993). In the search for stronger, lighter, more durable materials, researchers have begun to unlock the secrets of spider silk, seashells, and reindeer antlers, and there are even indications that genetic material may provide the basis for a new wave of advances in computer technology (Leary 1993; Lipton 1995). Each of these activities can be considered an aspect of biochemical prospecting, which I shall refer to as the purposeful evaluation of biological material in search of economically valuable discoveries.
