Photo：GTZ

What are genetic resources？

Genetic resources are materials of animal，plant，microbial or other origin that contain functional units of heredity and have an actual or potential value. They include animals and plants and parts thereof，seed，seedlings，fungi，bacteria and other single-celled organisms，cell cultures，spermatozoa，ova，chromosomes and DNA（desoxyribonucleic acid）.

For thousands of years plants and animals have been transported from country to country and from continent to continent to be used outside their region of origin，for example as cultivated plants，for improving seed and domesticated animal breeds，and as medicinal plants. The modern methods associated with biochemistry，molecular biology and above all gene technology have yielded rapid growth in the demand for genetic information for the various fields of application. It is often the countries of the South，with their enormous biodiversity，that supply this genetic information. The potential for use of the vast majority of plants，animals and microorganisms remains essentially unexplored. At the same time，their habitats are in danger and many species are threatened with extinction. The traditional knowledge of indigenous people and local communities about the possible uses of the biological diversity that surrounds them is an important resource，particularly in the search for new remedies.

As an incentive to the countries of the world to preserve their biodiversity，the Convention on Biological Diversity（CBD）proposes an international Access and Benefit Sharing（ABS）regime for genetic resources. The aim is to ensure that countries of origin receive a fair share of the benefits and technologies that result from the biotechnological exploitation of genetic resources and of the associated traditional knowledge，in return for preserving these resources，where possible in their natural habitats. Such benefits include the transfer of biotechnology and expertise that developing countries so urgently need，and their participation in research into genetic resources.