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Article: Scientists get a handle on crystal shape.(amno acids can alter growth pattern of calcite crystals)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- June 16, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 Science Service, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In a discovery that could have implications ranging from the design of new materials to an understanding of the origin of life, researchers have discovered how the microscopic orientation of amino acid molecules can force a crystal to take on either a left- or right-handed form.
Researchers have known for years that organic molecules can glom onto a growing crystal's facets and influence the crystal's shape. Until now, however, no one knew quite how. The new results, reported in the June 14 NATURE, show how amino acids work at the molecular level to accomplish this feat.
Like gloves, many individual mineral crystals or organic molecules exist in two ...