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"Obviously we cannot collect 1,000 basketball quantities from the Antarctic, that would destroy the ecology," Baker said.
Baker, who began his career in marine biology and chemistry in 1990, emphasized that many pharmaceuticals originate from natural organisms.
"More than half of FDA-approved drugs originate from natural sources," he said.
The professor described the melanoma findings as a major milestone.
"Killing cancer cells in a petri dish is one thing, but going beyond that is much harder," he said.
"Now we've got to make the next hurdle."
The expedition, funded by the National Science Foundation, required navigating severe environmental hazards.
"In Antarctica, you're dealing with ice, leopard seals, changing seas and sometimes very limited visibility," said Ben Meister, a USF professor and diving safety officer.
Meister emphasized that extensive safety protocols were mandatory for every underwater deployment.
"Every dive must be carefully planned to balance getting the work done while keeping everyone safe," he said.
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Ongoing development of the toxins will proceed through collaborative laboratory partnerships involving the Desert Research Institute and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
