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spectrum bioassay systems in research laboratories. Many laboratories have replied on looking at either microfoulers or macrofoulers and compounds that may work effectively on one of these are often ineffective when applied to the other. There is also a small range of target organisms studied in most research laboratories both in terms of the number of species and the geographical range of these species meaning that compounds identified tend to have a narrow spectrum of antifouling activity. Underwater bioadhesives One of the major challenges in mussel adhesive research is the difficulty in extracting and purifying sufficient quantities of MAPs from mussels; the amount of MAPs required for research is considerably high. Recombinant protein expression technologies have been utilised extensively in an attempt to address this issue during the last decade, however, low product yield, difficulties in purification, and impaired functionalities (compared to native proteins) of recombinant mussel proteins have limited their uses in research and practical applications. Development of recombinant technologies to produce MAPs in bulk quantities with functions comparable to mussel MAPs is ongoing. Biomimetics has also been used in the research and development of mussel inspired bioadhesives. Study in support of Impact Assessment work on Blue Biotechnology 161

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