Von Biomineralien zu biomimetischen Materialien: Der Weg ist das Ziel

Diatoms are unicellular organisms which possess a unique silicified cell wall. Their intricate structures have inspired the imagination of naturalists and scientists throughout centuries. However, molecular biological details about silica metabolic pathways still are obscure. To find out how soft matter can selforganize and create finite solid shapes and complex patterns is certainly one of the most challenging scientific problems today. Especially chemists just have started to unravel the mysteries of chemical morphogenesis.