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Wellcome to Biosphere oriented biology research unit, RIKEN
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Our unit tries to perform "multi-omics" analysis to understand complex functional eco-system and to establish the methodology to investigate about not-yet-cultivated microbial community. Such the novel analysis concepts could be open new horizon of biological science, biosphere science. Biomass is one of most important research target of biology in this world. We consume fossile resources and output carbon dioxide and it become cause of global warming. Recently, first generation bio-fuels are produced from crops and it instead of fossil fuels partially and contribute to avoid global warming. However, now, we face serious conflict between bio-fuel production and food production. |
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The biosphere originally contain the various organic materials flow and those flow include any kind of useful materials to produce bio-fuels. However, almost all organisms that contribute to this huge system is unknown microbes and we have still no way to cultivate them. United state already started the many project to develop such the bio-resources by using meta-genomic approach.
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Main target of our unit is same as such the useful microbial resources in the ecosystem. However, our approach is totally different from metagenome driven strategy. Our approach is functional molecule driven strategy. For example we already obtained novel and high performance cellulases from termite symbiotic system by using meta-transcriptome methods. These enzymes can realize non-chemical / physical process to produce the bio-fuels from ligno-cellulose based biomass as 2nd generation bio-fuels. |
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Now, we collaborating with Tokyo university, National institute of agrobiological science, Ryukyu university and Nagasaki university to establish the high efficient utilization system of ligno-cellulose based biomass by using of these enzymes from termite symbiotic system. Also, we started some collaborative research with private companies. Also, we trying to establish the multi-omics approach method to understand complex material flow and their controlling system based on profile of expressed genes, proteins and metabolic pathway. We already started collaborative research with Plant science center of RIKEN and already applied one patent. |
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| Our goal is understanding of the function of complex eco-system and utilization of them to establish the basic technology for sustainable society. We believe that our approach is unique and it will be contribute not only build the technology for sustainable society but also establish bland new type biology, Biosphere oriented biology. |
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What we doing right now !?
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