There is great interest, in biotechnological circles, in using silk more extensively as an industrial material.

ECONOMIST: A species of crustacean makes silk underwater

This particular research forms the basis of creating a collection of Antarctic bacteria for conservation and biotechnological research purposes.

BBC: Viewpoint: The last great polar challenge

Dr Venter, a veteran of biotechnological scraps ranging from gene patenting to the private human-genome project, has been interested in bioenergy for a long time.

ECONOMIST: Advanced biofuels

The material is an organic photovoltaic semiconductor (called rr-P3HT) which, unlike the metal or silicon-based materials used until now for such biotechnological interfaces, is soft, light, flexible and highly biocompatible and naturally sensitive to visible light.

FORBES: Artificial Retina From A Photovoltaic Polymer

Throughout the next decade major trends through an intermix of the life sciences and information technology will involve increasing use of biotechnological processes in understanding life, eradicating hereditary diseases, developing novel bio-industries, and furthering the uses of biomedical products in conserving the quality of life and the environment through the promotion of clean technologies.

UNESCO: Basic Sciences