and other organisms found on the bottom of boats which could lead to a cure for cancer.

Dr. Hank Trapido-Rosenthal of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research is studying the sponges to see if the noxious compounds they release could help kill cancer cells.

Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal and other scientists around the world have been researching the sponges for at least six years.

He is collaborating with other scientists and shares his research with a biotech company in San Diego, California, which is looking to develop cell-killing drugs.

Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal is also trying to discover if the compounds could be used to help keep the bottom of boats clean and to tackle pollution.

He said: "The sky is the limit as far as the sponges are concerned. These sponges have a history of being sources of cell-killing compounds.

"They are soft organisms that are fleshy and they can't run away, so why haven't they been eaten into extinction? "The consensus among marine biologists is that sponges and their symbionts (bacteria that live in or on them) are talented in the arts of chemical warfare.

"They load fish with toxins or noxious compounds and when the fish bites it has a very intensive learning experience which may or may not be fatal.

"The compounds have an effect on the musculature, nervous or hormonal systems of the fish which are similar to us, so we are looking at treatments for some syndromes or another.

"The sponges have a large number of different bacteria growing in or living in them and some of us think that the sponges are not doing the chemistry but the bacteria is doing the chemistry and the sponges are taking advantage.

"The line of reasoning isn't unique to scientists in Bermuda, others are working on it.

"We are not involved in the clinical level yet, but I am collaborating with a number of research scientists in various institutions around the world and with a biotech company in San Diego.'' Island's sponges may hold clue to cancer cure Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal said all the chemical samples he takes are sent to biotech company DIVERSA in San Diego and tested as a possible cure for cancer.

If they are not effective on cancer, the biotech company will see if they have other medical applications.

He continued: "There is a compound called bryostatin that comes from an organism at the bottom of boats and piers which would be for cell killing in the treatment of cancer. It kills cells that are rapidly growing such as cancer rather than cells that are just hanging out.

"From the perspective of the man in the street, we are never close enough to an application. There is a very long period of time from the initial observation in the field to the getting something in the pharmacy.

"I also have my eyes on how chemicals can be used in economic, non-medical environments like keeping boat bottoms clean and detoxing polluted areas.'' Reesearch technician Jason Ritter and Kate Windebank, a Bermudian student from Carleton College, have helped Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal on the project. St.

George's North MP Delaey Robinson discovered last year that scientists at the station were studying the sponges at the bottom of his 32-foot sloop Pterodroma Cahow , which is moored at Richardson's Cove, Ferry Reach.

Mr. Robinson, a Progressive Labour Party MP, said: "We were standing around in a circle talking at a station open day and the conversation turned to boats and I mentioned I had a boat that desperately needed its bottom cleaned.

"You could have heard a pin drop. The scientists just paled with horror and said `it's not that green boat that sits there? You're not going to take it out of the water soon are you?' "They said `please don't do it soon because we think we've discovered a new species of sponge that's not been described before'.'' Mr. Robinson has cleaned his boat since, but Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal said yesterday: "He can clean it now because there is more of that type of organism elsewhere.'' Cutting edge: Dr. Hank Trapido-Rosenthal prepares to slice open some of the Island sponges.

HEALTH HTH