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Laminariales
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Stabilized bromine protects from bacteria: kelp
Red and green algae (kelp) protect from bacteria via stabilized bromine.
"To protect against microbial squatters, a biomimic would look for clues in the skins of organisms that manage to keep themselves slime-free. Red and green algae (kelp) are able to stabilize a normally reactive compound called bromine in a way that fends off microbes without harming the alga. Nalco engineer William McCoy borrowed this stabilization recipe to create Stabrex™, a chlorine alternative that keeps industrial cooling systems microbe-free. Other models for antimicrobial excretions include olive trees, biscuit roots, lichen, and fungal-tending ants." (Biomimicry Guild unpublished report)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | (c) 2008-2009 The Biomimicry Institute |
Source | http://www.asknature.org/strategy/ee97bc4d069a87b7a9303edccecc5eaa |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:1224
Specimens with Sequences:950
Specimens with Barcodes:669
Species:83
Species With Barcodes:74
Public Records:751
Public Species:71
Public BINs:35