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  • Side Events (2627)

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Aichi Targets

Date

Side Event

Access and Benefit-Stealing: Between digital DNA and hyperspectral imaging, Biopiracy has never been easier

Organizer
ETC Group

Date and Time
1 November 2011 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Seventh meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions

Advances in genomics and synthetic biology are combining with satellite and aerial imaging techniques that make it potentially possible to conduct three-dimensional assays of species density and diversity, via airplane, over large areas and for others, on the ground, to take single samples of commercially-interesting plants or microbes and, in less than an hour, map their genomes and beam them up on the Internet where open-source software will let specialists download, synthesize and transform the digital code into modified organisms that can be patented. This side event will describe the technologies, the targets (including indigenous peoples), the economics, and the biopirates.