cell walls
Algae-killing viruses spur nutrient recycling in oceans
Scientists have confirmed that viruses can kill marine algae called diatoms and that diatom die-offs near the ocean surface may provide nutrients and organic…
Engineered microbe may be key to producing plastic from plants
Researchers, like those at the University of Wisconsin-Madison-based, Department of Energy-funded Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, hoping to turn woody…
Cell division in plants: How cell walls are assembled
For their study, the plant researchers examined the roots of the thale cress plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. They cultivated normal plants and plants in which…
The physics underlying complex biological architectures
Beautifully crafted architecture isn't limited to human-made structures. Nature is rife with ornate structures, from the spiraling fractal patterns of…
Research team creates new possibilities for medicine and materials sciences
Cellulose produced by plants and bacteria is the most important material of biological origin on the planet. Acting as the main component in plant cell walls,…
Scientists meet in Münster for the world’s largest Chitin und Chitosan Conference
Chitosan is a real all-rounder – a sustainable raw material with very useful properties. For example: the substance obtained from chitin stimulates the immune…