Title :
Diatom morphogenesis: natural fractal fabrication of a complex microstructure
Author :
Gordon, Richard ; Aguda, Baltazaar D.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Botany, Radiol. & Electr. Eng., Manitoba Univ., Winnipeg, Man., Canada
Abstract :
Diatom shells are intricate structures made by single algal cells with a spacing between parts of about 0.1 mu m. They appear to be formed by instabilities in diffusion-limited precipitation of amorphous, colloidal silica. The patterns are apparently modified by surface diffusion during their formation. They present a possible means of microfabrication of intricate structures.<>
Keywords :
biological techniques and instruments; biology computing; cellular biophysics; fractals; precipitation; 0.1 micron; algal cells; amorphous colloidal SiO/sub 2/; complex microstructure; diatom morphogenesis; diffusion-limited precipitation; fractal fabrication; microfabrication; surface diffusion;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 1988. Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Conference_Location :
New Orleans, LA, USA
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-0785-2
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.1988.94513
