Biological Prospectors, Pirates, Pioneers, and Punks in the Andes

An analysis of the case history of maca(Lepidium meyenii) as both traditional Peruvian medicine and patentable biotechnology is used to contrast two different regimes for conducting scientific research. The rise (or revival) of Civilian Science is contrasted with the patent-driven Intellectual Property Rights regime of "Big Science". This comparison is framed within the context of developing nations such as those of the Andean Community of Nations that have both high levels of biodiversity and limited resources available for research and development.