photography.qj.net What’s the relationship between these two images?

photography.qj.net What’s the relationship between these two images? Velcro and the plant burr that inspired its invention

Biomimetics - term coined by Otto H. Schmitt in 1969 to describe the idea of imitating and learning from biology.

What do these have in common? haymarketart.com visualparadox.com i153.photobucket.com/.../s232/impsire/nacre.jpg

Yes! You’re right. They are elegently functional natural materials comprised largely of inorganic compounds that have been developed by living systems over 3.5 billion years of evolution. And, their properties depend on their molecular structure.

What can we learn from learning about these materials? haymarketart.com visualparadox.com i153.photobucket.com/.../s232/impsire/nacre.jpg

Molecular Biomimetics – imitating and learning from our understanding of molecular biology.

Molecular Biomimetics – imitating and learning from our understanding of molecular biology. How can we build materials, like biological systems do, at the molecular level?

Self-assembly refers to a system in which molecules organize themselves according to their properties.

Peptides, with their specific shapes and binding properties are ideal tools for nanotechnology.

Peptides, with their specific shapes and binding properties are ideal tools for nanotechnology. Bacteria are used as factories for designer polypeptides by simply giving them the recipe (gene).

“GEPI’s” genetically engineered polypeptides for inorganics typically short (8-12 amino acids) have been produced to selectively bind to gold, titanium, silica, enamel and other inorganic materials.

“Biopanning” a process for selecting GEPI’s with specific affinity for a given material. homework: Compare and contrast “biopanning” with the production of antibodies by human B-cells that you read about in the article, “Fighting Colds with Natural Selection.” (from Evolution: The Triumph of an Idea, Zimmer)

So, one end of the GEPI binds to a specific material and the other can be seen as a LEGO block to which we can attach any number of other molecules or materials. Hmmm.

So, one end of the GEPI binds to a specific material and the other can be seen as a LEGO block to which we can attach any number of other molecules or materials. Hmmm. First alone, and then with a partner, brainstorm some potential uses of molecules that serve as interfaces between organic and inorganic materials.