Skip to main content

Currently Skimming:

Autonomous Systems and Synthetic Biology--Henry Hess
Pages 149-158

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.


From page 149...
... Both can operate in diverse environments with low power consumption and limited computing resources. These and other examples of microscopic systems with complex functionalities have been the inspiration for the emerging field of synthetic biology.
From page 150...
... In these experiments, we replicate critical cellular functions to test our understanding of essential and auxiliary biological mechanisms and components. The challenges in designing biomimetic systems using nanoscale building blocks include (1)
From page 151...
... . MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AT THE INTERFACE OF BIOPHYSICS AND SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY Precise measurements of nanometer lengths and molecular arrangements and interactions are the building blocks for the rational engineering of molecular shuttles.
From page 152...
... The challenge is made more daunting because classic engineering tools, such as technical drawings, have not yet been adapted to capture the dynamic nature of molecular structures. Questions such as whether the fluctuating reach of a linker molecule should be represented by its most likely or it most extended configuration (or both)
From page 153...
... . With support from the DARPA Biomolecular Motors Program, five research teams working collaboratively pursued the creation of "smart dust" biosensors, whose core components are molecular shuttles (Bachand et al., 2009)
From page 154...
... In addition, we do not know if biomolecular motors represent the pinnacle of achievable performance in terms of force, power, and energy efficiency, or if the use of synthetic materials and fabrication techniques will result in dramatic improvements in one or more metrics.
From page 155...
... On the basis of a similar combination of a "compartmentless" fuel cell and electroosmotic pumping, we were able to engineer a fully synthetic membrane that mimics the ability of cellular membranes to actively transport solutes using chemical energy harvested from the solution (Jun and Hess, 2010)
From page 156...
... When the membrane is submerged in a hydrogen peroxide solution and the two electrodes are electrically connected, the system acts as an integrated fuel cell and electroosmotic pump that uses the chemical energy of the hydrogen peroxide to power fluid flow across the membrane. designed structures is a very stringent test of our assumptions about biological nanomachines and their interactions.
From page 157...
... 2007. Synthetic molecular motors and mechanical machines.


This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More information on Chapter Skim is available.