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Biomolecular Self-Assembling Materials Scientific and Technological Frontiers (1996) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-4

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From page 1...
... The second category involves studying how nature accomplishes a task, or how it creates a structure with unusual properties, and then applying similar techniques in a completely different context or using completely different materials. An example of this approach is the study of the laminated structure of clam shells, which has been reverse-engineered to design a metal ceramic composite twice as strong as other composites and an order of magnitude tougher, and constructed of more robust materials than its natural analogue.
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From page 2...
... Incorporation of the government laboratories into the groups should be strongly encouraged since the government laboratories house a broad spectrum of instruments, experience in instrument development, and relevant expertise in such areas as synchrotron radiation, neutrons, imaging (electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic field microscopy, and x-ray microscopy) , and chemical and biological synthesis and characterization.
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From page 3...
... d. To provide instrumental facilities that would encourage interactions between experimental groups; and To provide industry with a single contact point for obtaining information about biomolecular research activities and for obtaining assistance in making connections with those activities.
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Key Terms

  • materials research
  • government laboratory
  • produce materials
  • involves directly
  • genetic techniques

  • complex hierarchical
  • laboratories house
  • clam shell
  • robust materials
  • significant technological

  • multidisciplinary character
  • form membranes
  • synthetic polymer
  • national biomolecular
  • easily processed

  • biological materials
  • industrial laboratories
  • appropriate intellectual
  • academic programs
  • food quality

  • category involves
  • students pursuing
  • staff commensurate
  • permanent scientists
  • visitor programs

  • similar techniques
  • molecules fold
  • technology centers
  • guest lecturers
  • directly mimicking


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