Biotechnology and the world of colours have always been intertwined. The market offers many products that capture the natural and synthetic colours of nature. These are just two examples of the flower markets for natural red roses, and blue-colored gene-designed roses that were recently launched in Japan.
The ‘Holy Grail of the Tulip World’, the famous ‘Black Tulip” of French author Alexander Dumas remains the most coveted. Many types of ‘Tulip King of Night’ (1944), to T.’Black Hero (844) make up the category of ‘the blackest of all the official ‘purple’ Tulips.
The beauty of nature has inspired poets and artists of all stripes. Hillarie Belloc from France describes in verse The Microbe’s structure with seven tufted tails that have lots of pink-purple spots.Schoolchildren can explore the microbiological world of microbial life through Winogradsky’s column, which has purple and green bands –consortia from the purple and green photosynthetic bacteria. The economy of Nature’s vital biogeochemical cycles–the nitrogen cycle–is aided by blue-green cyanobacteria.
Although the Red Sea’s name and colour may be derived from Trichodesmium, a red-cyanobacterium that is found in the Red Sea — Trichodesmium Erythraeum — the Red Tide population red-brown dinoflagellates (plant-like) has caused the loss of many fish. The pigments help to classify brown, red, and green alga; as well as protozoa, yeasts, and Euglena. Nature’s color artistry is evident throughout the biospectrum, which includes interalia green bacteria, antibiotic-producing strains of Streptomyces, Nocardia, fungi responsible for colorizing cheeses, blue anoles rainbow papaya and fish, as well green fluorescent proteins, which are responsible to the colouration of various corals. The reason d’etre for the fabled rainbow colours are green, yellow, orange, and purple-blue chloroproteins. They vary in light conditions.
Nature’s vast array of paints and pigments is a reminder of the importance of having bioresources centers to collect, classify, and preserve the biotreasury of the planet.
“Biomimicry , a new science which studies the best of nature and imitates them to solve human problems, is called Biomimicry . ……Organisations employ two methods to create color without paint. They use internal pigments and structural colour, which are the main colours of tropical butterflies, peacocks, hummingbirds, and other birds. The peacock, a bird that is completely dark brown, can be found in the tropics. Its “colours” result from light scattering off regularly spaced melanin rods, and interference effects through thin layers of keratin (the same stuff as your fingernails).’
To mimic the natural phenomenon of biomimicry, chameleonic colors and fluorescent colours in military clothes, new biosensors and nanoinformatics are used. Geofabrics that are coloured to be used in a suitable way contribute to the landscape and urban planning — preservation of park-lawns as well as conservation of golf course and park-lawns. Soil embankments are also embedded into floral gardens and help safeguard human creativity and beauty.
These technologies are clean and sustainable. The 1997 issue of the first ever biodegradable, green credit card. In marine waters, ‘Coral proteins turn on the red light’ and glow fish are used to indicate pollution. The attractive use of colors in biotextiles grafts makes bioceramics acceptable in dentistry, medicine orthopaedics tissue engineering, and veterinary science.
Human eye colour and genetic research have been made possible by genetic research. How coat colors are formed in cats, dogs and rabbits is unknown. has been decoded. It also revealed the head color of birds. To produce mice with sublines for research on ageing, fertility, and cancer, the alleles of coat colour are used. For research on neurodegenerative and cancer, the Big Blue mouse can be used. Yellow mice help localize gene mutations on specific chromosomes.Custom-made mice — the albino, cream, brown and black models are research keys studying tumour biology. The ability to observe coat colours requires no complicated tools, such as molecular genetics in the breeding or maintenance of mutant strains.
Humankind is inspired, motivated and lifted up by colours. To aid patients in recovery, psychological and clinic facilities employ soothing colours. There are also colours in sport. In displaying their national flags, winners show pride and a sense national accomplishment. EURO 2004 saw soccer and biopsychology meet. In order to enhance the local psychobiological advantage, and patrioticism, the coach requested that fans wear red-colored or green clothing in order to face the orange shirts of their opposition’s opponents during a qualifier match.
Corporation biotech has been chasing the rainbow. Al Gore was a Vice-President who envisioned the “pot of gold” at the end biotechnology’s rainbow. Entrepreneurs tend to concentrate their efforts’somewhere beyond the genetic rainbow.’ UN policy-makers employ colour-codes to address and create solutions to poverty and hunger. The UN Economic Commission for Africa in 2002 described ‘Realizing the Promise of Green Biotechnology for the Poor’ and ‘Tackling the Diseases of Poverty through Red Biotechnology’ —technologies that involve using genetically-engineered mosquitoes with the potential to eradicate malaria; and gene modified foods —golden rice and orange bananas, enriched with vitamin A to counteract the onset of blindness.
“Ethical issues of green biotechnology in developing countries” are being addressed. The question of whether transgenic plants need to be distinguished from other species is currently under consideration for regulatory purposes. Transgenic plants with blue or green colour are used in space biology research to detect stress.
Nutritionists speak of a rainbow diet high in vitamins and micronutrients. This makes food more appealing and appetizing, and gives the body a better feeling. Traditional medicine suggests eating natural colours that have natural phytonutrients. It is important to choose the right combination of green, yellow and red foods. This will help you avoid artificial obesity and diabetes. The delicacy of blue cheese and black truffles is free from artificial food colorings. In the future, supermarkets might offer carrots in orange or purple. “Research on different colored carrots does not aim to make a fashion statement, but rather it is about possible health improvements.”
Traffic-colours in amber or green are used to deter trade from certain commodities. The amber box policy signifies ‘caution’ in relation to price supports, marketing loans and subsidy, as well as livestock quantity. Policies in the green box cover research, crop insurance, conservation programs, as well pest and disease management. Blue box policies, which are temporary WTO categories that allow for transatlantic negotiations and include’redefined Amber box policies regarding production limiting programmes’.
Colours highlight important aspects of biotechnologies for economic development. In 2003, the Cordia EuropaBio Convention in Vienna was titled ‘Blue Biotechnology – Exploitation of Marine Resources’. It focused on the Ocean of Opportunities’ for sustaining sustainable development by rationally using marine bioresources. Europe has a leading role in “Green Biotechnology in Africa” through its collaboration in biotech education and research.
At the Biosciences Technology Facility (University of York), the European Commission recognized in January 2004 that any biotechnology platform for developing bio-based product would need to combine the best of both the “Green” and “Blue” biotechnology sector’. Programmes that use ‘the synergies of green, blue and white biotechnologies can help to unlock bottlenecks.
The 12th European Biotechnology Congress in 2005 will utilize 4 biotech engines: red (pharmaceutical), white (industrial), green (food, feed and environment) as part of ‘Bringing Genomes to Life’ in Denmark.
In Germany, colour codes seem to be the mainstay of science policy. According to a Hessen Ministry of Economy survey, 60% of the 253 companies in biotechnology with over 43,000 employees were specialists in red-biotechnology. The Ministry also found that 4% of them were experts in green and agricultural biotechnology. Only 1% were specialists in grey and industrial biotechnology. In Baden-Württemberg, over half of the biotech companies excel in red biotechnology with smaller numbers in the grey and green sectors. German market research emphasizes white and red biotechnologies. Around 86% all biotech firms are made up of red biotechnology. With 27%, green biotechnology is followed with 10% by grey biotechnology.
The USA has established a five-color coded security system. It ranges from low (low), to high (guarded), to yellow (elevated), orange (high), and red (severe). All levels of preparedness and vigilance are required to respond to threats from terrorism or bioterrorism. Inclement weather alerts (USA) or colour alert systems for pollution (Mozambique), indicate the time that is available to take preventive action for people with asthmatic or respiratory conditions. They also help in reducing loss of life and other economic resources.
A ‘five-level Mad Cow alert (colour),’ is used in satire. Alert levels include eating cow parts, limited beef intake (yellow), and exercising planned protective measures (blue). They also cover symptoms such as mooing and chewing the cud (orange), and switching to fermented foods like tofu (red).
Using colours to describe biotechnology constitutes a new mechanism in:
– attracting school children to the microbial world in different environments;
– teaching biotechnology in graduate and medical schools; and
– providing sound bytes for use by non-technical policy-makers promoting the biotech powerhouse for sustainable development.
At a USEC Biotech meeting 2003, Dr. R. Colwell was Director of the US National Foundation. He stated that if we were to weave a Flag of Biotechnology it would have three colors: green for agriculture, red for medical, and white industrial. This flag could actually gain more colors as other environmental, marine and industrial applications make their stripes.
The colour index may prove useful in this context. It also helps to understand how biotech and colors interact over time.
Color Type Area of Biotech Activities
Red – Health, Medical, Diagnostics
Yellow – Food Biotechnology, Nutrition Science
Blue – Aquaculture, Coastal and Marine Biotech
Green – Agricultural, Environmental Biotechnology – Biofuels, Biofertilizers, Bioremediation, Geomicrobiology
Brown – Arid Zone and Desert Biotechnology
Dark – Bioterrorism, Biowarfare, Biocrimes, Anticrop warfare
Purple – Patents, Publications, Inventions, IPRs
White – Gene-based Bioindustries
Gold – Bioinformatics, Nanobiotechnology
Grey – Classical Fermentation and Bioprocess Technology