bioprospectingn.
/ˌbʌɪə(ʊ)prəˈspɛktɪŋ/, /ˌbʌɪə(ʊ)ˈprɒspɛktɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌbaɪoʊˌprɑˈspɛktɪŋ/ The action or process of searching for living organisms, (now) spec. for plant or animal species from which commercially valuable genetic material, biochemicals, medicinal drugs, etc., can be obtained. Cf. biopiracy n.
ΚΠ
1964 Science 8 May 614/3 Simpson's essay proves that he does not oppose mental bioprospecting of the worlds, which costs the taxpayer nothing.
1991 New Scientist (Nexis) 19 Oct. 39 Monsanto calls the programme ‘bioprospecting’ and is interested in soil microorganisms as well as plants.
2005 Canad. Geographic Mar. 107/1 Bioprospecting has been called the gold rush of the 21st century.
Derivatives
ˈbioproˌspector n. a person or (less commonly) an organization that carries out bioprospecting.
ΚΠ
1994 Sci. Amer. June 106/1 To bioprospectors, microbes have a particular advantage over plants: they are small.
2003 Nature 18 Sept. 223/1 Bio-prospectors rely on international agreements if they are to scour ecosystems for interesting compounds.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1964- ultra-nationalistic
- ultra-natural
- ultra-ornate
- ultra-orthodox
- ultra-orthodoxy
- ultra-papist
- ultra-patriot
- ultra-patriotic
- ultra-pecksniffian
- ultra-pecuniary
- ultra-phenomenal
- ultra-physical
- ultra-pietist
- ultra-pluralism
- ultra-pluralist
- ultra-popish
- ultra-presbyterian
- ultra-professional
- ultra-protestant
- ultra-protestantism
- ultra-prudent
- ultra-pure
- ultra-puritan
- unathletically
- unathleticism