eightprime.net

urchin spines

Posted on November 18th, 2004 by eightprime.
Categories: blog, biology.

“The sea urchin’s tough, brittle spines are an engineering wonder. Composed of a single crystal from base to needle-sharp tip, they grow back within a few days after being broken off. Now, a team of scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science has shown how they do it.”

Imagine enormous urchin organisms constructing single crystal girders and parts on demand. Digital interfaces program cell masses to exact specifications. With standard tools we extend outselves mechanically. Why not build ourselves external organs, life processors, extend ourselves biologically?

precision realized from an amorphous substrate.

-w.

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