How the Zebra Got its Stripes
Where Chemistry Speaks and Darwin is Silent
by Dr. Andrea Sella (Department of Chemistry, University College London)
To a chemist, one of the many intriguing features of biology is the
exquisite ability of biological systems to control pattern formation – from
the stripes on the side of a zebra to the feathers of birds – and the
extraordinary silicate architectures of diatoms, biological systems
display spectacular examples of structural control across a wide range
of scales. To do this, organisms have harnessed chemical processes in
a remarkable way. Dr. Sella uses a number of chemical reactions to
illustrate these ideas. If all goes well, he may even create life from an
inorganic system! This lecture will be of interest even to those without a
chemical background or knowledge of the periodic table
Where Chemistry Speaks and Darwin is Silent
by Dr. Andrea Sella (Department of Chemistry, University College London)
To a chemist, one of the many intriguing features of biology is the
exquisite ability of biological systems to control pattern formation – from
the stripes on the side of a zebra to the feathers of birds – and the
extraordinary silicate architectures of diatoms, biological systems
display spectacular examples of structural control across a wide range
of scales. To do this, organisms have harnessed chemical processes in
a remarkable way. Dr. Sella uses a number of chemical reactions to
illustrate these ideas. If all goes well, he may even create life from an
inorganic system! This lecture will be of interest even to those without a
chemical background or knowledge of the periodic table
