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Brief Communications
Nature 424, 899-900 (21 August 2003) | doi:10.1038/424899a
Open Innovation Challenges
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Fast Growth of Transformed Soybean Shoots
A method for accelerating growth of soybean shoots is desired.
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Protect Enzyme from In Planta Degradation
A proposal for stable expression of an enzyme in corn seed is desired.
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Scientist, Recombinant Protein Expression
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen
- Copenhagen 2200 Denmark
Project Leader - Natural Food Preservation
- Nestle Research Center
- Lausanne 1026 Switzerland
Fibre-optical features of a glass sponge
Vikram C. Sundar1, Andrew D. Yablon2, John L. Grazul1, Micha Ilan3 & Joanna Aizenberg1
Abstract
Modern technology cannot yet compete with some of the sophisticated optical systems possessed by biological organisms1, 2, 3. Here we show that the spicules of the deep-sea 'glass' sponge Euplectella have remarkable fibre-optical properties, which are surprisingly similar to those of commercial telecommunication fibres — except that the spicules themselves are formed under normal ambient conditions and have some technological advantages over man-made versions.
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