Paper short abstract:

This study highlights the productivity of biological samples within the scientific capital market, demonstrating their importance beyond the traditional economic market in biomedicine.

Paper long abstract:

This investigation delves into the scientific capital market, underscoring the alternative productivity that biological samples bring to the realm of scientific research. Far from being just subjects of economic exchange, these samples are crucial for propelling scientific knowledge, credibility, and innovation forward. The Tumour Bank at the National Institute of Oncology in Mexico exemplifies their role in scientific practices, where biological samples are treated not as commodities, but as foundational elements for the market of scientific capital.

In this landscape, biological samples emerge as key drivers for a range of products that are essential to the accumulation of scientific capital. The competitive dynamics surrounding access to and governance over these samples highlight the market's nuanced nature, where scientific capital, represented by peer recognition, research funding, and publication metrics, becomes the primary currency fuelling scientific endeavours.

This study delves into the economic, intellectual, and societal impacts of biological samples within the scientific capital market, highlighting the necessity of recognizing the existence and significance of this market. It argues for the acknowledgment of factors beyond the conventional economic market in discussions surrounding biomedicine, aiming to broaden the perspective on what drives scientific innovation and contributes to societal advancement.