Molecular Characterization Of Turkey's Microbial Flora

The project is planned on three main objectives. 1) The characterisation of Turkey’s microbial flora (bacteria, mould, and fungi) by using molecular biological techniques, and collecting them in a catalogue which is to be updated periodically. 2) Further classification of these collected microorganisms in terms of their industrial importance, and identification of the genes that provide such important features. 3) Investigation of the extrachromosomal DNA (plasmids and bacteriophages) which might exist within the collected microorganisms, and the preparation of plasmid and phage collections. Each of those catalogued microorganisms that has not been known before and that the genes cloned from them, are first to be patented. All the data produced on this research will then be made publicly available by storing them on a data base. Following the functional and structural characterisations of industrially important gene products, effective strategies will be developed for their mass production by the application of recombinant techniques. Necessary funding for such activities will be seeked from industrial organisations. Having a comprehensive microbe collection of Turkey, in terms of live stocks and as data base, is by all means of a strategic importance: microbial biodiversity of the Earth is enormous, however it is limited; besides an uneven exploitation capacity and power of sharing among world nations, biodiversity has been negatively influenced by human intervention: erosion, disruption of forests and green lands, the impoverished soil and waters, and environmental pollution. Consequently therefore, many unknown species are also becoming extinct. Monitoring of such changes in microbial diversity thorough out the country would be possible only when a comprehensive microbial collection and the knowledge are readily available. From the project’s perspective, it appears logical to suggest that a long-lasting, continuous, and comprehensive study would require a scientific premise where scientists and laboratory infrastructure is exclusively dedicated to realise the aims. In the light of this suggestion, all the studies that make up the entire project can from the beginning be organised in such a way that the project would develop itself, in a progressive manner, into the above mentioned scientific premise, for example, Turkey’s Culture Collection of Microorganisms (TCCM).