calculated scientific laziness, but a little bit of Bermuda is helping research into a killer disease.

The humble Harrington Sound sponge, a seabed dwelling ancient organism, is providing clues to Bermuda and German scientists about ways to combat cancer.

"We suspect they have chemicals in them that will affect the biology of other creatures, such as ourselves,'' said Dr. Hank Trapido-Rosenthal, a Bermuda Bioligical Station researcher.

The sponges are just one ocean species among hundreds around Bermuda that could be tapped to provide answers to some of the world's most pressing medical problems.

Different types of sponges from Harrington Sound are being analysed for possible cures to cancer, arthritis and osteoporosis.

Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal added: "There is an element of calculated laziness involved, with rationality behind it.

"Sponges and other invertebrates attached to the bottom of the seabed cannot run very fast and do not have claws or jaws, so they can be collected relatively easily.

"They have also been sitting on the ocean bed for eons while other creatures have evolved around them.

"It looks like two scoops of raspberry sherbert, but has been relying on chemical warfare to survive and has toxins in its flesh that will put off fish.'' Dr. Trapido-Rosenthal takes the sponges and extracts those chemicals which are shipped off to Germany for scientists working for Boehringer-Mannheim, a Corange Ltd. Company, to analyse for their properties.

He said a large number of the sponges have chemicals which are cytotoxic, or cell killing, and interfere with the replication of cells.

It is that chemical that could be developed into an anti-cancer compound as it would inhibit the spread of the disease by stopping new cancer cells being created.

"Commercially there is nothing concrete, but scientifically there are definite possibilities. The potential is there for it to be used against one cancer, but it will be years before that is demonstrated,'' added Dr.

Trapido-Rosenthal.

He said compounds in other sponges had been discovered which had anti-inflammatory activity which could be developed to help beat arthritis and another sponge threw up chemicals that stimulated bone growth, which could be used in the treatment of osteoporosis.