International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2278 - 3202 1 3 2012 07 10 Importance of Exploration of Microbial Biodiversity 78 83 EN Patel AnuradhaJitendra 1 Department of Zoology, Bhavans College, Andheri, Mumbai University, Mumbai, INDIA Thakor AkankshaPravin 2 Department of Biotechnology, N.B. Mehta Science College, Bordi, Mumbai University, Mumbai, INDIA Avlessi Félicien 1 Lab. d’Etude et de Recherche en Chimie Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou BENIN AlitonouGuy Alain 2 Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, IBMM UMR, CNRS-UM1-UM2, ENSCM, rue de l’Ecole Normale, Montpellier cedex, FRANCE DjenontinT. Sébastien 3 Tchobo Fidele 4 Yèhouénou Boniface 5 MenutChantal 6 Sohounhloué Dominique 7 Radha K. 1 Department of Microbiology, Ayya Nadar Janaki ammal College, Sivakasi, Tamilnadu, INDIA Mahima R. 2 Department of Microbiology, V.H.N.S.N College, Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu, INDIA RamanathanG. 3 Thangap 4 ian V. 5 Bhatt T.K. 1 Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, INDIA DjenontinTindo S. 1 1Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche en Chimie Appliquée (LERCA), Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey – Calavi (EPAC), Cotonou, BENIN Amusant N. 2 CIRAD, UMR 016 GPEB, Montpellier, FRANCE Dangou J. 3 CIRAD, UMR ECOFOG, Equipe Matériaux et Molécules, Kourou, FRANCE Wotto D.V. 4 CIRAD, UR 40 Tropical Wood Products, Biorefinery team, Montpellier, FRANCE Avlessi F. 5 Dahouénon-Ahoussi E. 6 Lozano P. 7 PiochD. 8 Sohounhloué K.C.D. 9 Majumdar Tania 1 Department of Food Technology and Biochemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, INDIA ChakrabortyRunu 2 Raychaudhuri Utpal 3 Mehta Jitendra 1 Plant Tissue Culture Lab. and Dept. of Biotech., Vital Biotech Research Inst., University of Kota, Kota-Rajasthan, INDIA Sain Monika 2 SharmaDev Ratan 3 Gehlot Priyanka 4 SharmaPriyanka 5 DhakerJayraj Kiran 6 Sharma Ch 1 Department of Biotechnology, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla-171005, INDIA erK. 2 KanwarShamsher S. 3 Ben C.P. 1 Department of Botany, Nesamony Memorial Christian College, Marthandam, Kanyakumari – 629165, Tamilnadu, INDIA BeulaA. 2 Department of Biochemistry, Sri Adi Chunchanagiri Womens College, Cumbum-625516, Tamilnadu, INDIA NirmalaDevi S. 3 Somani Vaishali 1 Zoology Department, B.N. Bandodkar College of Science, Chendani, Thane 400 601, Maharashtra, INDIA QuadrosGoldin 2 Zoology Department, Maharishi Dayanand College, Parel, Mumbai 400 012, Maharashtra, INDIA PejaverMadhuri K. 3 Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Anaikatti Post, Coimbatore 641108, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Putri L.S.E. 1 Dept. of Bio., Faculty of Sci. and Tech., State Islamic University, Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Ciputat, INDONESIA HidayatA.F. 2 Department of Biology, Jakarta State University, INDONESIA Suk 3 ar P. 4 Aweng E.R. 1 Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Locked Bag No 100, 17600 Jeli, Kelantan, MALAYSIA Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 52110 Kepong, Selangor, MALAYSIA Nur Hanisah 2 MohdNawi M.A. 3 NurhananMurniY. 4 Shamsul M. 5 Garode A.M. 1 PG Dept. of Microbiology, Shri Shivaji Science and Arts College, Chikhli, Dist- Buldana, MS, INDIA Waghode S.M. 2 Suryavanshi P. 1 College of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy, P.A.U, Ludhiana (PB), INDIA Babu S. 2 Scientist, I.C.A.R Research complex for NEH Region, Sikkim centre, Sikkim, INDIA BaghelJ.K. 3 Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, INDIA Suryavanshi G. 4 Assistant manager, T.M.I.L, Paradeep, Orissa, INDIA Bhardwaj Vibha 1 Department of Microbiology, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, Haryana, INDIA Garg Neelam 2 > Review Paper 2012 6 1 2012 07 10 The microbial world is the largest unexplored reservoir of biodiversity on the earth. It is an important frontier in biology under intensive investigations. The exploration of microbial diversity has been spurred by the fact that microbes are essential for life since they perform numerous functions essential for the biosphere that include nutrient recycling and environmental detoxification. The management and exploitation of microbial diversity has an important role in sustainable development with the industrial and commercial application of microbial diversity worth millions of rupees. Given the heterogeneity of natural environments and the enormous potential of microorganisms to provide novel pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals and new technologies, the biotechnology industry has a vast, largely untapped resource for the discovery of new chemicals and novel processes. However, despite the obvious economic value of microbial diversity, microorganisms have been largely ignored in debates on the conservation and management of global diversity. There is, therefore, an urgent need to persuade policy-maker to be more concerned about the conservation, management and exploitation of microbial diversity. There are a number of reasons why the conservation of microbial diversity has not received the same attention as plants and animals. For example, microorganisms are invisible, less familiar and perceived primarily as agents of disease. With respect to the role of microorganisms in sustainable development, little is known about the potential contribution of microbial diversity to the national economy, to wealth creation and to improvements in the quality of life. An appreciation of these factors might be one way of changing government and public perception of microorganisms by showing that the sustainable use of microbial diversity has positive economic value. This would help justify the costs involved in conserving microbial diversity, but equally provide a useful indicator of the costs of inaction. In terms of the scientific rationale needed to underpin policy, quantification of microbial diversity has been limited. This makes it difficult to indicate what needs to be conserved in order to support the biotechnology industries and to understand fully the interactions between organisms responsible for maintaining a functional ecosystem. Copyright@ International Science Community Association